Silay city: The Negros Occidental provincial government is planning to secure a water supply of 50 million liters per day (MLD) for the cities of Bacolod, Silay, and Talisay through the proposed Negros Bulk Water Supply Imbang Watershed-Hinalinan River Project.

According to Philippines News Agency, the Environment Management Bureau-Negros Island Region (EMB-NIR) has released a summary of the project's environmental impact statement for public review. A public hearing is scheduled at the project site in Barangay Guimbala-on, Silay City, on April 27. The provincial government is currently seeking an environmental compliance certificate (ECC) for the project.

The notice issued on April 7 by EMB-NIR indicated that the hearing aims to facilitate the exchange of information and opinions among the project proponent, the EMB-Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), relevant agencies, local government units (LGUs), and stakeholders regarding the environmental impacts of the proposed project. The public engagement is part of the ECC application process.

The project intends to extract raw water from the Imbang River, specifically at the intake point located in Hinalinan River in Barangay Guimbala-on. It aims to address the rising water demand in the three cities by enhancing access to clean and safe water for approximately 50,000 households. The initiative also seeks to transition from groundwater abstraction to a more sustainable surface water utilization, ensuring a reliable and environmentally sound water supply for service providers.

The proposed project is expected to span 38 years, which includes a three-year construction period, with full operational capacity projected to commence in 2028. As the main proponent, the provincial government will either independently or in collaboration with the private sector, oversee the planning, development, and coordination efforts with national government agencies, including the DENR, LGUs, and other stakeholders.