ALMOST CRITICAL This view of Angat Dam on Sunday, July 9, 2023, shows how low its water level has dropped. On Saturday, July 8, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said water reserve at the dam, which supplies 98 percent of Metro Manila’s water, was at 179.99 meters, or some 20 meters above the critical level of 160. INQUIRER/GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE
MANILA, Philippines — Congress and the national government must prioritize the establishment of a Department of Water Resources to equip the country as a possible water shortage looms.
Agri Party-list Rep. Wilbert Lee cited the onset of El Niño and emphasized that the Philippines may face drought and other water supply problems now and again.
He said that the House of Representatives and Senate should make bills to create the Department of Water Resources among its priorities once the congressional session resumes on Monday, July 24.
“This is not the first or the last time we will deal with this critical problem, which is why we need a Department of Water Resources. Ngayon pa lang ay kailangan na natin ng epektibo at sustainable na water resources management program para tugunan ang mga impact ng El Niño,” he said on Wednesday.
(Even now, we need an effective and sustainable water resources management program to address the impacts of El Niño.)
“Mismong si Pangulong Bongbong Marcos ay binanggit ito sa kanyang SONA noong nakaraang taon, at sa tingin ko dapat itulak ito nang husto sa pagbubukas ng Kongreso sa Lunes,” he added.
(Even President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. mentioned this in his Sona last year, and I think this should be pushed once Congress resumes session on Monday.)
Marcos is set to deliver his second State of the National Address (Sona) on Monday, after the 19th Congress opens its 2nd regular session.
Lee warned that past El Niño episodes have affected local food production. Hence, he stressed the attention of the legislature and national government to water problems is imperative.
“Kailangang paghandaang mabuti ng pamahalaan ang El Niño, lalo pa at inaasahan na makakaapekto ito sa mga pananim ngayong taon, partikular sa bigas,” Lee said.
(The government needs to prepare well for El Niño, especially as it is expected to affect this year’s crops, particularly rice.)
READ: DA focusing on rice output to ease El Niño impact on food
Previously, Marcos assured the public that his administration would address water management. In February, Marcos signed an executive order creating the Water Resource Management Office (WRMO), tasked to handle water-related concerns and ecological threats by supervising concerted operations among different agencies.
READ: Bongbong Marcos OKs creation of Water Resource Management Office
READ: Bongbong Marcos orders creation of DENR’s Water Resources Management Office
But several supporters of the proposed Department of Water Resources were cool about the WRMO, noting that it would only operate under an agency, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.
On July 12, Senator Grace Poe reiterated that water management in the country requires a separate department since at least 30 different national and local agencies are managing the country’s water resources. She said these national and local agencies were not operating synchronically.
READ: Water management needs separate agency, not just DENR office – Poe
According to Lee, a bill was filed in August 2022 to establish the Department of Water Resources, which is seen to take charge of developing and implementing programs and policies aimed at providing Filipinos access to a safe, adequate, affordable, and sustainable water supply.
The measure also seeks to use rainwater collection systems to support the country’s water needs.
“Mahalaga ang tubig sa kalusugan nating lahat, sa ating food supply, at sa ating agricultural and industrial development (Water is so important for our health, food supply, and for our agricultural and industrial development),” he pointed out. With reports from Bea Alicia Delariarte, trainee
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