DILG to step up potable water supply projects  

MANILA, Philippines – The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), amid the water supply crisis in Metro Manila, will step up this year its potable water supply projects in parched parts of the country.

“Ang kasalukuyang krisis sa tubig sa ilang lugar dito sa Kamaynilaan, pati ng ating mga tagapagtaguyod ng mga proyektong patubig sa DILG, ay isang paalala na mas lalo pa nating pahalagahan ang tubig na nagbibigay buhay at gawing mas makabuluhan ang ating mga gawain,” Marivel Sacendoncillo, DILG Undersecretary for Local Government, said in a statement on Wednesday.

According to Sacendoncillo, over two million households in waterless communities nationwide have benefited from 4,963 completed potable water supply projects since 2012.

The projects were handled by the DILG through the Office of Project Development Services-Water Supply and Sanitation Project Management Office.

“Napakahalaga ng ginagawa natin dahil hindi tayo basta DILG. Whatever we do we contribute to the bigger picture of achieving and sustaining good local governance,” Sacendoncillo said.

The DILG is one of the 28 agencies involved in the implementation of national programs such as the Sagana at Ligtas na Tubig Para sa Lahat (Salintubig), Bottom-up Budgeting (BuB)- Water Supply, Assistance to Municipalities (AM)-Water Supply, and Local Government Support Fund (LGSF)-Water.

Of the completed projects, 1,468 were implemented through Salintubig; 2,962 through BuB- Water; and 533 through AM-Water, the DILG said.

The DILG, however, has yet to announce the number of additional potable water supply projects it will implement this year, DILG Undersecretary and Spokesperson Jonathan Malaya told INQUIRER.net.

Malaya called on the Philippine National Police, Bureau of Fire Protection, and local government units to extend help in rationing water to affected communities of the water shortage.

He urged LGU officials to be on top of water-rationing efforts to avoid panic and chaos.

“We expect our LGU leaders to be proactive in [giving] support to communities affected by the water shortage. Kailangang maramdaman ng ating mga kababayan sa mga barangay na kasama nila ang lokal na pamahalaan sa pagharap sa pagsubok na ito,” Malaya said. / gsg

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