Water supply in Botolan barangays

This letter is in reference to Mr. Ernesto M. Maceda’s Search For Truth column in The Philippine STAR dated 05 December 2012 where Mr. Maceda had mentioned that based on ABS-CBN report the so-called Aetas of Botolan had to walk four hours just to have water, much more drinking water. How accurate is this ABS-CBN report?

Please allow me to give you information relevant to the above matter, being a Botolan resident, for the so called Aetas of Botolan. Before the Mt. Pinatubo eruption there were at least 11 Botolan mountainous eastern Barangays known to have Aetas, with some living alongside Non-Aetas. If not all 11 Barangays, some of these Barangays do not exist anymore, being completely buried by lahar. In one of the most progressive and populated Barangays the only structure remaining standing and abandoned is a mini hospital which before Mt. Pinatubo eruption is located in approximately 70 to 100 feet elevated area. The 11 Barangays are considered the savior of Botolan because if not for these Barangays, Botolan would never have existed anymore. The Aetas and non-Aetas of Botolan forcibly ejected by Mt. Pinatubo were resettled in various resettlement areas in Botolan — Loob Bunga, Itanglew, Papht, Gawad Kalinga and Ntra. The resettlement sites mentioned are just 2 to 3 kilometers from town proper and accessible by foot and all kinds of transportation. The sites have almost all basic necessities, being too close to the river (heavily silted with lahar Balinbaquero-Bucao, Belbel and Pangamten), aside from some piped-in natural (mountain) stream water and several deep wells. The Ntra even has its own privately managed water system and also some deep wells.

Lately some of these so-called Aetas of Botolan and even non-Aetas elected to return to a place of their own in Barangays Cabatuhan and Burgos. For Barangay Cabatuhan and Burgos (2 to 3 hours travel for approx. 20-30 lm distance on dangerous rough road) the source of water (Balinbaquero-Bucao River) in these areas is just stone’s throw away from the government (municipal) constructed deep wells. In Barangay Cabatuhan there is even a military detachment posted and an elementary school. Why post a military detachment in this area when the source of water would be a problem?

The so-called (real) Aetas of Botolan will not bother to settle in a place too far from the source of water, much more walk for 4 hours (ABS-CBN data). For sure they have the means how to have this basic necessity. Also, today the so-called Aetas of Botolan are intelligent, educated and well adapted in all aspects of lowlanders’ system of living.

Where is this place mentioned by ABS-CBN? Has ABS-CBN really been in this place of the so-called Aetas of Botolan? Can this good ABS-CBN reporter be identified and asked how he/she got this information and arrived at this baseless and biased conclusion? Can the report by ABS-CBN and PhilStar be rectified?

Hoping the above information will be enough to clear the bad impression created by the biased comments on the so-called Aetas of Botolan having problem with water, as Botolan has abundant supply even of drinking water. — MAX B. DOMACENA, Barangay Carael, Botolan, Zambales