Council urges talks on Sagada water proj tiff

By Gina Dizon

SAGADA, Mountain Province -- The Sangguniang Bayan in their regular session Nov. 8 agreed beneficiaries would be consulted and informed on the controversial P36 million Boasaw water project here and how it shall be implemented.

A total of P18 million was already received by the local government unit from the priority development assistance funds of Sen. TeofistoGuingona 111 for Sagada waterworks early this year; and an additional P18 million projected to be sourced from the Cordillera Highland Agricultural Resource Management Project 11 (CHARMP).

Need for consultation was one of the issues identified in Sangguniang Bayan Resolution No. 155-2011 ruling without action and returning the proposed Memorandum of Agreement forwarded by the Office of Mayor Edward Latawan identifying parties namely LGU of Sagada and the CHARMP, pending compliance of some documents and resolution of certain issues.

The SB resolution ruled that intended beneficiaries be clearly identified.

Said resolution implied the SB was not fully informed on what the Boasaw water works was all about and terms and plans of the P18 million sourced from Guingona.

Said resolution also forwarded that implementation by every barangay be considered in said proposal to CHARMP in case the fund is intended for the whole municipality; and that the amount be equally divided by the 19 barangays of the municipality.

Barangay captain Victoria Agnapan of Dagdag said she thought the Boasaw waterworks project was only meant for households of Barangay Patay Poblacion.

Further, the SB noted that the change in name as proposed by the municipal mayor from Sagada Domestic Water Supply Project to Tanulong Tribe Irrigators Association Water Service created confusion on who the real beneficiaries of the project are.

Communication from the mayor’s office cites theTanulong Irrigator’s Association as the one which shall manage said water system instead of the LGU, the SB noted.

With respect to the water source, the legislative body noted that the documents were lacking like notarized power of attorney for the person speaking in behalf of the Bacdayan family.

Water rights of Boasaw waters was reportedly registered in the name of Bacdayan et al.

The SB also asked for documents pertinent to the registration of the Buasaw Irrigators Association and a certification that the group was currently an active association and in good standing.

The legislative body in their resolution noted unresolved issues in the past relevant to the construction of waterworks involving the Boasaw water source to avoid wastage of public funds.

Boasaw had been an identified source of irrigation for northern barangays and domestic water for SagadaPoblacion through the years, with water funds sourced from CHARM among others.

Domestic water pipes have been disconnected and ‘disappeared’ from the water system however. Also, blue pipes meant for irrigation ofTanulong’s rice fields have also been disconnected and set aside near the irrigation canals leading along the way to Boasaw.

Madongo barangay captain Joseph Aclopen said farmers have to disconnect these as plant roots have grown inside the pipes causing clogging of water. Aclopen noted that implementors should have cemented open canals instead of laying out the blue pipes.