BAGUIO CITY – Mayor Mauricio G. Domogan applauded the efforts of the Local Water Utilities Administration (LOWA) to devolve to the water districts the regulation of the operation of deep wells in their areas of jurisdiction to prevent the proliferation of illegal deep wells in the different parts of the country that tend to compromise the sustainable supply of potable water for the people.
Domogan was able to air his sentiments to LOWA Administrator Jesli Lapus, who was his colleague in the 13th and 14th Congress, when the latter visited the city to spearhead the inauguration of the new building of the Baguio Water District (BWD) recently.
He expressed his gratitude to Administrator Lapus for initiating the preparation and the subsequent issuance of an administrative order that will devolve to the water districts the regulation of the operation and presence of deep wells in their areas of jurisdiction to abate the continuous presence of illegal deep wells that could affect the supply of potable water for the people in the different parts of the country.
“We are elated over the latest development that we were able to get from Administrator Lapus because it is really the water districts with the assistance of the local governments that are familiar with the prevailing situation in their places that is why the concerned water district and local officials should be allowed to be the ones to regulate the operation of deep wells in their areas of jurisdiction,” Domogan stressed.
He said that the proliferation of illegal deep wells pose a serious threat to the stability of the identified major sources of water in the city that is why there is an urgent need to regulate the operation and existence of deep wells in the different parts of the city.
According to him, more than 70 percent of the sources of water in the city come from underground sources while the remaining almost 30 percent comes from surface sources, thus, the need for the imposition of the needed regulation on the operation and existence of deep wells in the city to reduce the possibility of the sources of potable water being significantly affected.
Earlier, Domogan was able to bring the matter to the attention of the association of water districts in the country during their recent convention that was held in the city and that his proposal for the devolution of the power to regulate the operation of deep wells got the support of the said group.
He underscored that it is the water district with the assistance of the local governments that are familiar with the prevailing situation in a certain area, especially when it comes to the sources of water that is why whatever application for the operation of deep wells must pass through them so that its impact to the water supply of a certain area will be given due consideration.
He emphasized that the National Water Resources Board (NWRB) will definitely oppose the move of the LOWA to deliver to the water districts the power to regulate the operation of deep wells but what should matter in this case is the sustainable of potable water supply in areas where water districts operate.
By Dexter A. See
