Bohol mayor orders removal of illegal water-extraction system

MANILA, Philippines —  Mayor Juliet Dano of Sevilla, Bohol has ordered the removal of pipes and other structures for bulk water supply of the adjacent Balilihan town at Bugwak Spring located in her municipality.

Dano implemented on June 9 the Sevilla Sangguniang Bayan Resolution 2023-110 ruling issued on June 5.

She said her office would turn over the pipes and structures, including a 100-horsepower submersible pump, to anyone who could prove ownership of the items that were removed.

“The removal started last Thursday, but a police officer from Balilihan came over and asked the Sevilla employees to stop dismantling the structures and asked for a court order allowing the action,” Dano said.

The mayor added that workers suspended their work for the day to avoid any trouble, but continued the next day.

Dano said she had to act on the complaints of her constituents for the “intrusion” as the water project operates without a permit or building approval from Sevilla.

Residents and officials of Sevilla have repeatedly asked the Balilihan local government to remove the structures from the spring as they had not given their consent to build on their territory.