Poe: Desalination could help, but ‘may not be very practical’ for PH
UNEVEN FLOW Having a steady supply of drinking water remains a luxury in urban poor communities, like the slums of Tondo, Manila. A UN report is calling for bigger investments in water services for consumers who need them most. —MARIANNE BERMUDEZ
MANILA, Philippines — Senator Grace Poe on Thursday said that while “desalination” could help solve water supply problems, such method might just not be practical for the country.
In an interview at the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City, Poe said: “We should have as many water sources as possible, desalination is another option but because of the cost of energy in the country it may not be very practical.”
President Rodrigo Duterte earlier sought advice from Singapore and Israel about sound water management to help address water woes in the Philippines.
He noted that Singapore had the best operating machines on desalination, a process which removes salt content from seawater to make it potable.
READ: Duterte seeks help from Singapore, Israel on Metro Manila water woes
“We need a lot of advice from Singapore and I’m sure those advises (sic) will help a long way to help us solve the problem especially water. I know Israel and Singapore has the best operating machines about desalination,” Duterte said in his speech last March 19.
Poe said that if desalination would be the government’s initiative to deal with water supply problem, it better look for cheaper sources of energy to operate the desalination plant.
“If it is a government initiative, baka pwede silang gumawa ng desalination plant na may mas murang maukuhanan ng gasolina or power para patakbuhin ito,” the senator said.
She suggested a waste-to-energy system or converting solid wastes to energy to operate desalination plants.
“Baka naman ‘yung waste-to-energy sources natin (pwede) gamitin para magpatakbo [ito]. Ang daming basura sa bansa so ewan ko kung magagamit natin ‘yun para patakbuhin itong desalination plants,” she said. /kga
