Poe: Water crisis avoidable with proper policies

PRECIOUS DROP Manilans are again struggling to get water as the distributors fail to keep the service interruption schedules that they have introduced to conserve supply. GRIG C. MONTE GRANDE

MANILA, Philippines — If correct policies are in place and being implemented, the water crisis in the Philippines is “avoidable,” Senator Grace Poe said Monday.

Poe, the head of the Senate Committee on public services, said while the looming El Niño is a “predictable” phenomenon, Filipinos still experience water shortages, especially during the dry season.

“The water crisis hounding Filipinos is avoidable if the correct policies are in place and are being implemented,” she said in a statement.

“The coming of El Nino is a predictable phenomenon, which should have kept water authorities and concessionaires on their toes to prepare for contingency measures,” Poe added.

“Instead, we are confronted with the same old scenarios during this season of the year – dry taps, parched soil, below normal dam levels, long queues of pails,” she continued.

The senator said the country lacks “common gaols” that would set clear directions and actions toward water security for all Filipinos.

“By this time, we expect the Water Resources Management Office (WRMO) to get its feet wet amid the water shortage being felt by households, businesses, and the agriculture sector,” she said.

She said the Senate will continue to push for the creation of the Department of Water Resources, which will lead the “comprehensive development and management of water resources.”

The senator earlier said the WRMO, created through the President’s executive order, is a “timely intervention” that will boost action to address the rising water stress in the country.

JMS/abc