BACOLOD City – The Bacolod Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) has approved a resolution urging all 61 barangays in the city to strengthen the monitoring of water refilling stations operating without the required permits and to assist in identifying and geotagging local water sources to help ensure water safety and protect public health.
Approved during the council’s regular session last week, the resolution calls on barangay officials to work closely with the City Health Office (CHO) and the Bacolod City Water Quality Committee in regulating water suppliers and monitoring community water sources within their respective jurisdictions.
The measure, authored by Councilor Em Legaspi Ang, chairperson of the SP Committee on Health and Sanitation, stemmed from concerns raised during a recent Water Quality Committee meeting regarding the operation of several water refilling stations without the necessary permits and certifications.
The City Council noted that the increasing number of water refilling stations in Bacolod underscores the need for stricter oversight to ensure compliance with the Philippine National Standards for Drinking Water and other local regulations governing water distribution.
Under the resolution, barangays are encouraged to conduct regular inspections and monitoring of water refilling stations operating within their communities and to report establishments that fail to secure the required business permits, operational clearances, and Certificates of Potability.
The resolution likewise emphasizes compliance with City Ordinance No. 1128, which requires all water providers and refilling stations, particularly those sourcing water from deep wells and the Bacolod City Water District (BACIWA), to obtain the necessary permits before distributing water to consumers.
Aside from monitoring water refilling stations, the City Council is also seeking the active participation of barangays in identifying, mapping, and geotagging Level 1 (point source) and Level 2 (communal faucet) water systems throughout the city.
Ang said the initiative would help establish a comprehensive inventory of water sources and support ongoing physicochemical and bacteriological testing conducted by the CHO and the Water Quality Committee.
The resolution recognizes barangays as frontline government units in implementing policies and programs at the community level, making local officials key partners in ensuring compliance with sanitation and public health standards.
By involving barangays in monitoring and data-gathering efforts, the City Council aims to improve the regulation of water providers, prevent the proliferation of undocumented water sources, and strengthen measures to protect residents from potential health risks associated with unsafe drinking water.
The council expressed confidence that stronger collaboration among barangays, health authorities, and regulatory agencies would help ensure the availability of safe and reliable drinking water for Bacolod residents./PN
