About 30,000 households will be affected if the operation of Well No. 8 in Brgy. Felisa, Bacolod City stops, Bacolod City Water District officer-in-charge Juliana Carbon said

Carbon said the demand of the Kalubkob Community Associtaion in Brgy. Felisa to stop the operation of Well No. 8 is baseless because, while they are saying that they have experienced water shortage, yet they could not provide figures on the number of households that are affected. She said that while there are water sources near the pumping stations that have water, there are others that have no water at all.

Carbon said the allegation of the complainant that the operation of Well No. 8 has affected their water sources might lead to a decision by the city to have the operation of the well closed, which she hopes will not happen.

If the operation of Well No. 8 is stopped, 418 Baciwa employees will be affected, as well, as 30,000 to 40,000 residents in the southern portion of the city, including Brgys. Handumanan and Felisa, Carbon said.

She said Mayor Evelio Leonardia had issued an order lifting the cease-and-desist order, imposed in 2004 against Baciwa, to allow the operation of Well No. 8 which include terms and conditions to protect the interest of the residents of Brgys. Felisa and Handumanan.

Carbon said "This shows that the city has leadership and political will and we have to respect and implement the order."

She requested the complainants to allow their personnel to inspect their water sources because it is Baciwa that will repair and find solutions to restore their water supply and that they don't have to spend anything.

Carbon said she is also requesting the residents not to harass their employees who are conducting surveys and gathering data in their area.

Carbon became emotional during the press conference she called yesterday after the complainants blamed them for causing discord among the residents of Felisa.

"We are saddened to hear them claim that we are the cause of trouble among the residents in Felisa," she said. Carbon she believes there is nothing to quarrel about because all these can be discussed peacefully. Let us just open our minds to all the solutions and suggestions, she said.

"I hope the Brgy. Felisa complainants would see the wisdom of the order of the Mayor and cooperate with Baciwa in solving the water problem," she said.

She said they are thankful that the Mayor called for a conference Tuesday involving all the concerned parties.

Leonardia said he hopes that during their dialog on Saturday the parties will be represented by fewer people because if many people participate, emotions could not be controlled. He said they hope to come up with something more solid and concrete to resolve the problem this Saturday.*CGS

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