“WHO YOU!?” This phrase could be taken as a sarcastic remark or a pointed question.
On the lighter side, “Who You” is also a 2013 global hit song by G-Dragon, born Kwon Ji-yong, the highly influential South Korean rapper, singer-songwriter, and leader of the K-pop group Big Bang.
In Negros Occidental, however, “Who You!?” has become the “question of the week,” sparking a rift between the Office of the Provincial Administrator, Atty. Rayfrando Diaz II, and the Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) of Silay City.
AUGUST 6 LETTER
The “Who You!?” issue stemmed from Diaz’s Aug. 6 letter addressed to the Silay City SP.
In his two-page communication, Diaz requested the council to issue a Resolution of No Objection for the controversial re-proposed P1.1-billion bulk water project to be established at the Imbang River in Barangay Guimbalaon, Silay City.
“Verily, we respectfully urge your Honorable Office that this matter be acted upon with the seriousness and expediency it warrants,” Diaz wrote in the final portion.
This closing, however, did not sit well with Vice Mayor Tom Ledesma and the city councilors, who questioned why the letter came from a provincial administrator — an appointed official at the Capitol.
Still, the Vice Mayor and the SP members responded politely through a letter dated Aug. 11. They reminded Diaz:
“For matters requiring the attention of the Sangguniang Panlungsod, the established protocol is to transmit them (letters) to the local chief executive — in this case, through Mayor Joedith Gallego — to facilitate proper endorsement and consideration.”
They concluded: “We look forward to receiving the proposal through the appropriate channel.”
MYKOL’S VERSION
Feeling aggrieved, Councilor Michael “Mykol” reacted strongly. In media interviews, he underscored the most basic protocols in government and business correspondence.
He stressed that appointed officials cannot simply dictate to elected officials of Silay — especially on crucial matters involving Silaynons’ interest and welfare.”
Mykol and his fellow councilors, including Vice Mayor Tom, had a valid point about respecting the boundaries of political power. Silay is not the Capitol, and the Capitol is not Silay — that’s the reality.
For Mykol, they were merely asserting their right to question a letter that demanded action from elected officials on a controversial project, without first passing through the Office of the City Mayor.
NON-NEGOTIABLE
Mayor Gallego, for his part, reiterated in an interview that his objection to the project remains firm and non-negotiable.
“This is beyond politics. This is about the people of Silay — and they are against the said project,” the mayor stressed.
According to Silay’s Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office and other concerned agencies, the re-proposed project would harm sugar planters, rice farmers, livestock raisers, and other sectors.
“Indi ko gusto nga sa ulihi, indi na ko mayor, basulon pa ko gihapon sang tawo,” Gallego said. (“I don’t want that later, when I am no longer mayor, people will still blame me.”)
TO COURT
But Gov. Bong Lacson is not giving up. He said he will continue to “court” Mayor Gallego and explain the project’s benefits not just for Silay, but for nearby localities as well.
According to the governor, the plan — which would draw water from the Imbang and Malogo Rivers in Silay and E.B. Magalona — is expected to produce substantial potable water for residents of Victorias, Silay, Talisay, Manapla, and E.B. Magalona.
Lacson emphasized that the project only requires 24 to 26 million liters per day (MLD) from the Imbang River’s 400 MLD capacity. Too small to worry about?
Still, both Mayor Gallego and Vice Mayor Tom remain opposed. Technically, Vice Mayor Tom said he remains unconvinced, while Gallego vowed to stand by the “voice of Silaynons” — which is firmly against the project.
WHAT WENT WRONG?
But what went wrong? Initially, the Capitol said 17 bidders had expressed interest.
In 2023, bidding was set under a public-private partnership (PPP) scheme. But when Mayor Gallego “rocked the boat” by rejecting the project in February, the 17 private firms pulled out.
Only one remained — First Balfour, Inc., a consortium of the Lopez Group of Companies and Victorias Milling Company (VMC). As the sole bidder, it was declared the winner.
However, in December, the Capitol disqualified First Balfour, declaring its P16 per cubic meter bid “too high” for ordinary consumers in Negros Occidental.
The rest, as they say, is history.
Now, the re-proposed project will be undertaken solely by the Capitol using its savings — no more PPP (public private partnership).
n his letter to the Silay SP, Diaz underscored the urgency, stressing that Negros Occidental is facing a looming water crisis. He said the project is not a luxury, but a matter of fairness and public service — not just for today, but for the next generation of Negrenses.
A ‘MISSTEP’
In fairness, both sides may have well-founded reasons for their positions. But the apparent “misstep” in channeling communications only worsened the issue — now dubbed the “War on Water” (WOW).
The lesson: know your boundaries. Observing proper protocols in official communications is crucial. It shows respect, defines authority, and avoids unnecessary friction.
As for the bulk water project, the governor must clearly explain how it will benefit the majority of Negrenses. A “half-baked” explanation will only land him in hot water — especially with Mayor Gallego’s staunch opposition in defense of his people./PN
