Lack of water hounds Bontoc; solutions mulled

By Wabilyn C. Mana-od

BONTOC, Mountain Province – Lack of water is hounding this capital town and local officials are still trying to find solutions to this problem.

Lately, in response to strong clamor of residents for sustainable supply of water, the municipal government headed by Mayor Pascual Sacgaca reactivated the Bontoc Waterworks Unit into Bontoc Water District.

A project proposal was also presented to town officials even as a public hearing was set Dec. 13 to inform the public about reactivation of the unit.

The hearing will also an occasion to present findings of a pre-investment study for a viable water project.

Water supply was still being administered by Bontoc Waterworks Unit as of last week.

Problems such as long term availability of water, accessibility and equal distribution had been a challenge up to the present administration.

Mayor Sacgaca said he was giving priority to solving the problem constituents were affected.

This, he said, was in consonance to the municipal government’s vision to develop the municipality into an eco-cultural tourism destination.

Sacgaca worked with Rene LemarRamel, a volunteer consultant who had been conducting pre-investment study and prepared the project proposal for the Bontoc Sustainable Potable Water Supply Project.

It was learned that the BWD started its operation on July 1981 but because of policy differences on water meter installation, the operation was stopped February 1990 by a municipal ordinance.

Reports from the pre-investment study revealed the BWD was not yet officially dissolved in the absence of court order validating the transfer and termination, hence the BWD was a corporate entity still in existence but inactive.

To re-activate the same, a Sangguniang Bayan resolution was needed, officials said.