BAGUIO CITY – Mayor Mauricio G. Domogan wants the power of the National Water Resources Board (NWRB) to regulate and issue permit to deep wells devolved to the local governments in order to prevent the unabated issuance of deep well drilling permits that tend to deplete the city’s water supply and damage its aquifers.
The city mayor cited it is unfortunate that the NWRB is the one empowered to issue permits for deep well operations even without consulting the concerned local government such as the city government in the case of Baguio City in order to determine whether or not the proposed deep well would significantly affect the existing aquifers among other deep wells in the area.
“We are the ones who know the situation in our areas of jurisdiction that is why we must also be empowered to regulate the operation of deep wells so as not to affect the operation of existing water districts and legitimate water permitees,” Domgan stressed.
He disclosed the proliferation of legal and illegal deep wells in the different parts of the city could be attributed to the failure of the NWRB to involve the concerned local government unit in rendering decisions whether or not the grant the permit being requested.
Domogan challenged the NWRB to regularly conduct monitoring activities on the deep well operators that were issued permits and also check the illegal operation of deep wells to help the water district in their campaign to prevent the depletion of the city’s aquifers that would result to water shortage in the future.
According to him, the unabated operations of increasing number of deep wells around the city wo7uld significantly contribute to the depletion of the city’s sources of potable water that is why it is now high time for concerned government agencies to do their assigned takes to stop the issuance of permits to applicants for deep well operations in the city.
The local chief executive also claimed NWRB even fails to consider the valid petitions of individuals and groups against applications for issuance of permits for deep well operations which does not conform with existing rules and regulations.
“If we continue to operate deep wells, unknowingly, the city will be suffering from serious water shortage in the future,” Domogan said.
Ironically, the city mayor disclosed even the water district is not empowered to stop the illegal operations of deep wells in the different barangays because only the NWRB is empowered to regulate deep well operations thereby contributing to the depletion of the city’s available supply of potable water for local residents and visitors.
Domogan said NWRB must accord respect to the host local government unit by seeking their consent prior to the approval of the required permits for deep well operators, especially in the different barangays of the city.
He cited water is an important resources in highly elevated areas like the city, thus, there must be close coordination between concerned government agencies and local governments in the regulation of the operation of deep wells so that there will be a sustained water supply for city residents, especially for the present and future generations.
