Some 1,530 families from Tanauan City, Batangas are appealing to local and national authorities to watch over the installation of a 125-horsepower submersible pump capable of extracting underground water at the cost of its residents.
In an interview with Manila Standard, Francisco Lirio, chairman of Central & West Balele Waterworks Association, said the establishment of the pump is an “abuse of natural underground water resources.”
“It is capable of extracting underground water at the rate of 400 gallons per minute, so much that nature cannot replenish such a volume of underground water the nature’s way. They will operate their powerful well 24 hours a day to be supplied to their consumers in the different barangays of Tanauan City,” he emphasized.
Lirio, who is also a former mayor, said the residents of Barangay Balele have consulted the matter to water drilling engineers and to the Water Resources Institute of the University of the Philippines-Los Baños (UP-LB).
Experts have advised them to file a protest before the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), he said.
Lirio added this matter has also been referred to the DENR Secretary by the Office of the President to conduct an investigation.
Meanwhile, Lirio shared this issue has gained the support of Senator Loren Legarda, an environment advocate, as well as the provincial government under the leadership of Governor Hermilando Mandanas.
More than 3,000 individuals have participated in a unity walk conducted on Saturday night to raise attention on the matter, he said.
Manila Standard has sought the comment of South Luzon Water Corporation on this matter but has yet to receive a response as of this posting.
