BACOLOD CITY – Water refilling stations and other establishments here that tap  groundwater will be required to seek  permit with the National Water Resources Board (NWRB) beginning January before securing or renewing their business licenses.

City Permits  and Licensing head Vicente Petierre III said a three- to four-month undertaking will be given to them and if they apply with the NWRB after the period, the city government will close down their business.

Petierre said he will issue a warning to water refilling stations that refuse to accept the demand letter of the NWRB and found without mayor’s permits.

He said NWRB representative Nerizza Berdin sought their assistance in sealing off water refilling stations and other establishments that utilize groundwater without a clearance from their agency.

About 110  water refilling stations are operating in Bacolod City and at least 70 percent tap groundwater. 

Petierre said there may be more because there are those that have not secured mayor’s permits.

Some establishments that have executed affidavit of undertaking and paid the necessary fees to Bacolod City Water District but failed to process their applications with the NWRB, he noted.

Petierre said some water refilling stations without permits were sealed off by the NWRB.

The NWRB is at a loss on how many refilling stations that tap groundwater are operating in Bacolod and it is conducting an assessment to know the status of the groundwater here, he added.

The Sangguniang Panlungsod has passed the Groundwater Ordinance, authored by Councilor Carlos Jose Lopez, which provides that all drillings should be cleared with the Permits and Licensing Division and the NWRB through the BACIWA.*NLG