By LITO RULONA Correspondent HUNDREDS of families in two relocation sites in Balubal have called on the city’s officials and the Cagayan de Oro Water District (COWD) to provide them a sufficient source of potable water. Balubal barangay chairperson Vivian Malingin said some estimated people in the village, many in relocation sites, were facing difficulties as a result of the local government’s failure to provide them an infrastructure for their water supply. Malingin said she and the villagers have long been asking city hall and the COWD to set aside funds so they would have a reliable source of potable water. The barangay is host to two relocation sites--one was established as a result of the Emanoad,ministration’s “piso-piso” program while the other is the SMC-GawadKalinga relocation sites put in place when Mayor Oscar Moreno assumed as the city’s leader. “The relocation sites and the entire barangay for that matter have been suffering as a result of scarcity of water,” Malingin said. She said Balubal’s water crisis worsened when city hall started bringing in families that survived the 2011 Typhoon Sendong devastation. “Kalitlang mi-doble among gidaghanondirimaonga nag-problemana kami saga-imnunngatubig,”Malingin said. Presently, she said, the town government of neighboring ManoloFortich in Bukidnon has been helping villagers but the water it provides is insufficient. “Magpa-agaslamangsilaog alas-6 sabuntag, and then mo-undang pagka-9 sabuntagsausalamangkasource ogripo. Mao ngadilitananangmakakuhaogtubig,”Malingin said. She said the previous administration and the COWD had planned to implement a P2.5-million water development project but it was not realized. Because it did not push through, Malingin said, ManoloFortich offered to implement a P12-million project to provide the village with a water system. But problems on water pressure proved to be a hindrance. “Dili kami maka-sure ngamahitabokini.Karonmisamotkiningaproblematungodkaymidaghannamanangnamuyokarondiri.Diligyud kami priority saManoloFortich Water District tungodkaygawas man kami sailanglugar,” she said. Malingin said former congressman Rufus Rodriguez promised a P95-million for a water system project that would benefit Balubal. Again, it was not realized. Rodriguez’s brother Maximo Jr., now the representative of the city’s 2nd District, has pursued the project “apandunay back job.” “Pagbuhat man gudnilakay ting-initunyapaghulawkaywalanadiaykini’ytubig. Kung masulbadkiningaproblemakay spring man hayanngamaka-tabangtabangnakini,”Malingin said.