The Success of The HEART And SUPER CITY Programs Needs a CIWMMP

I commend the SOCA of Mayor Greg Gasataya, delivered on July 8, 2026, and the SODA of Congressman Albee Benitez, delivered on July 20, 2026, by giving them high scores in acknowledgement of the effort that goes into the preparation and delivery of such comprehensive reports.

Reflecting on the ideas and priorities expressed in those speeches, however, I found that an indispensable element for the success of programs they discussed was absent. I am referring to WATER as the “basics of all the basics” and as the lifeblood upon which the HEART program of Mayor Gasataya and the Super City program of Congressman Benitez, ultimately stand and depend on.

In a vernacular quip, “Tubigan lang gid ang bilog nga Bacolod ukon tagaan lang gid sang tubig ang tagsa-tagsa ka Bacolodnon – mahimo kag mahuman gid ang tanan nga buluhaton diri sa Siudad sang Bacolod.” Literally in English, “Just address the water problem in Bacolod City and all the rest will follow”.

The quip above, which is actually an issue at hand, cannot be approached in a simplistic manner. It requires a policy recommendation that entails a clear, specific and time-bounded guide or blueprint, and a sound management for its implementation.

With WATER in mind, I reflected on a clear policy guide, I will call a “Comprehensive and Integrated Water Management Master Plan” (CIWMMP).

This Master Plan is comprehensive; it encompasses all aspects of water and its related components and complete in scope, to include “Water Below the Ground, Water on the Ground and Water Above the Ground.” It is also integrated or integrative because all of the above internal and external components of water is interconnected, not independent of one another, to improve the quality of life, the common good, welfare and well-being of the People of Bacolod City.

The CIWMMP as a guide, enables our local government leaders to understand and manage water which is a resource that has three interconnected dimensions:
1. “Water below the Ground”, refers to the conservation, protection and rehabilitation of the underground aquifers and all existing forested watersheds that captures rainwater to infiltrate the soils and “recharge” or refill said aquifers.
2. “Water on the Ground”, refers to the water supply, and re-supply, extracted from properly managed aquifers and watersheds for the consumption of households, businesses, industries and institutions – on the ground, and –
3. “Water above the Ground”, refers to rainfall (above the ground), which can accumulate and turn into a destructive rushing stream of flood water that threatens lives, livelihood and property.

The above-mentioned water dimensions are wide in scope, complete, interconnected and the magnitude of problems could be catastrophic should the local government consciously or unconsciously refuses or deny discussions and implementation of water management in their SOCAs and SODAs.

As stipulated in my proposed CIWMMP, the refusal or denial is tantamount to, first of all, neglecting the management of water sources or the Bacolod community’s lifeblood below the ground, which unknowingly could now be depleted and fall below the critical level. This is alarming because Bacolod City’s water sources are highly dependent on aquifers, water below the ground. Secondly, the failure of managing water below to be delivered on the ground threatens the survival of individuals and families as water depletion targets their food security provided by agriculture, a sector which is absolutely, not just “highly”, dependent on water.

An unmanaged depleted water sources below threatens the livelihoods and employment of residents, on the ground, because it will weaken the long-term sustainability of businesses, investments and institutions. An inadequate or no-water scenario on the ground would mean no prosperity for households, caused by the eventual closure of businesses, investments, industries and institutions. This is a scenario that describes a local economy that cannot generate employment. Clearly, unemployment exacerbates poverty and the root is a neglected and an unmanaged water supply below the ground and on the ground.

Thirdly, and worse, is the water above the ground, which is the rainfall. If rainfall is not properly managed, regulated and controlled, could cause water accumulation, on the ground, and the rapid-rushing stream of devastating water-floods can eliminate years of household and industrial investments in a matter of minutes.

This calls for a discussion and establishment of drainage systems, flood control infrastructures, waste management and de-clogging/dredging of waterways, the implementation of the “Circular Economy Program”, sound land-use planning and implementing the most neglected government policy and program, which is reforestation. by 54 percent of the total land area of Bacolod City, and the entire Negros Island.

The Bacolod City Government can lead in the massive reforestation efforts of the Negros Island, to cover 54 percent (54%) of its entire area which is critical in recharging water below and mitigate the flooding of water above.

Conclusion

The future of Bacolod City does not rely on the articulation of priorities, plans and programs without considering fundamental resource upon which it is dependent on and a driver of its success – WATER, and my reflection of pushing for the establishment and implement a Comprehensive and Integrated Water Management Master Plan (CIWMMP), is a humble contribution that will guide the Bacolod government to simply take care of its people by giving them adequate and quality supply of water.

The CIWMMP is not just another piece of paper but a guide for the Bacolod government to be a good custodian of this one resource, water.

It starts with the management and protection of what is below the ground, our watersheds and aquifers. Proper management of water below the ground enables it to deliver safe, adequate and quality water on the ground, necessary for the survival of individuals, their families and their means of livelihood (investments, businesses, industries and institutions) and their food security (agriculture sector), aptly called the economy and the ecosystem where everyone belongs.

The economy and the ecosystem have to be secure through effective flood mitigation, flood control and climate resilience mechanisms, as this is also water, water from above, whose accumulation and transformation into water-floods could cause catastrophe.

Fundamentally and ultimately, the success of the HEART and Super City programs will not be measured on what is seen and heard but by guaranteeing that every Bacolodnon enjoys accessibility to affordable and reliable water supply and secure from water-floods.

There will be no economic growth and development to talk about without the lifeblood offered only by water.

It is time to craft and implement a Comprehensive and Integrated Water Management Master Plan (CIWMMP) at such a time when a water crisis or devastating floods had not caused a catastrophe yet. Let us be warned, however, that certain signals of catastrophe have begun.

The government official who delivers water to all constituents will leave a legacy that will never be forgotten by generations to come.* (Councilor Wilson “Jun” Gamboa)