WATER CRISIS IN BANAUE: Residents experience supply cut amid ownership dispute of water source

Banaue, Ifugao – A water shortage has hit Banaue after the local water district’s supply was cut off amid a dispute over the ownership of its water source, leaving residents without water for nearly a week.

The interruption came after the Banaue Water District suspended rental payments for the use of its water source following the issuance of an Audit Observation Memorandum (AOM) by the Commission on Audit (COA), which required proof of ownership from the claimant. However, the barangay certification submitted by the claimant was deemed insufficient, preventing the release of payments.

An AOM is issued by the COA to flag irregularities in government transactions and typically requires agencies to address issues or submit supporting documents before funds can be released.

As a result of this legal and administrative impasse, hundreds of residents—including children, senior citizens, and persons with disabilities (PWDs)—have been forced to fetch water from springs and rivers, posing serious risks to health and safety, especially among vulnerable sectors.

In a Facebook post, a concerned resident expressed respect for the mandate to safeguard public funds and the rights of property owners but emphasized that compliance should not lead to prolonged disruption of essential services such as water.

“We fully respect the mandate of COA to safeguard public funds and the right of the owner to protect his proprietary claim. We do not seek to circumvent audit rules… However, we submit that when the strict application of procedure results in the deprivation of a basic necessity such as water, there must be room for urgent, humanitarian mediation within the bounds of law,” the resident said.