REP. NICASIO Aliping Jr. during his proclamation after winning the congressional race in 2013 RICHARD BALONGLONG/INQUIRER NORTHERN LUZON
BAGUIO CITY, Philippines—Rep. Nicasio Aliping Jr. has asked the public for tolerance, after being criticized by bloggers and people on social networking sites for his alleged role in an illegal road project that may have contaminated a water source in the city.
Aliping on Wednesday said he was waiting to obtain clearer details about the issue from a June 18 technical conference with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).
He said he could not release any statement that would confirm or deny his role in the road project inside the Mt. Sto. Tomas watershed at the boundary of Baguio City and Tuba town in Benguet province.
On June 6, DENR foresters filed a complaint against Aliping and three Baguio contractors for illegal tree cutting and for intruding into a protected forest after they found that the road construction was undertaken without an environmental compliance certificate.
Strong rain loosened soil from the road excavation, which was washed down to Amliang Creek and three springs that are water sources of Baguio Water District (BWD), the DENR said.
“I welcome the filing of the case. Let the process take its course. Everyone is presumed innocent and entitled to due process,” he said in a text message.
On Thursday, Mayor Mauricio Domogan urged experts to determine the quickest way of cleaning up the Amliang water source, which BWD taps to supply water to houses in up to 20 villages of Baguio and Tuba.
Domogan said the area under contention was outside the city’s jurisdiction, which prevents the city government from taking action.
Baguio’s reliance on the water source, however, compels the city government to seek remedies for the polluted water source.
Baguio has been experiencing strong rains since Tuesday and these may trigger further erosion into the BWD water sources. Vincent Cabreza, Inquirer Northern Luzon