Marcos urges public to conserve water amid El Niño

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. urged the public to conserve water in preparation for the effects of the El Niño phenomenon on the country.

Marcos made the call in his second State of the Nation Address as he informed the public of the government’s preparation for the dry season, especially in the agriculture sector.

“Tayo rin ay naghahanda sa El Niño na nagbabadyang tumama sa mga darating na buwan. Nagsimula na tayong maghanda at ang mga buffer stock at ang mga kagamitang patubig ay hinahanda na. Kung kinakailangan magsasagawa pa tayo ng cloud seeding upang makapagdala ng ulan,” Marcos said.

“Kasabay ng lahat ng ito, hihinimok din natin ang ating sambayanan na magtipid ng tubig para sa malawakang paghanda sa banta ng tagtuyot.”

Further, Marcos said the government installed 6,000 rainwater collection facilities across the country in preparation for the looming dry spell brought about by the El Niño.

To ensure water security in the country, Marcos mentioned anew the need for a Department of Water Resource Management.

“Ang tubig ay kasing-halaga rin ng pagkain. Kailangan nating tiyakin na may sapat at malinis na tubig para sa lahat at sa mga susunod na salinlahi. Kasama na rito ang tubig na ginagamit natin para sa sakahan,” he said.

“Considering its fundamental importance, water security deserves a special focus. Our efforts must not be scattershot but rather cohesive, centralized, and systematic," he added.

"So given that urgency, we have created the Water Resource Management Office to specifically handle the delicate job involving this most precious resource. Nakikipagugnayan tayo sa Kongreso upang maipasa ang batas para sa pagbuo ng isang Department of Water Resource Management.” 

In April, Marcos issued an Executive Order which created the WRMO under the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

Section 2(a) of EO 22 states that the WRMO will “shepherd and champion, together with the Presidential Legislative Liaison Office, the passage of a law creating an apex body such as the proposed Department of Water and/or a regulatory commission on water.”

This year, Marcos said the government allocated P14.6 billion for water supply projects which would benefit communities.

He added that there would be a “significant boost” in the water supply in the National Capital Region and the province of Rizal after the first phase of the Wawa Bulk Water Supply Project.

The water supply in the said areas would increase further as the project enters its second phase.

In March, Marcos admitted that the Philippines was experiencing a water crisis. — DVM, GMA Integrated News