Marcos: Brace for a water crisis

By Kristina Maralit  and Bernadette E. Tamayo, Manila Times

PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Thursday admitted that the country is facing a water crisis and reiterated the need for the government to ramp up efforts to head it off.

Speaking at the 6th Edition of the Water Philippines Conference and Exposition in Pasay City, the President also announced the creation of the Office of Water Management to deal with the water supply problem.

"When they say water is life, it's not just a cliché, it's a truism. And it is something that we must always keep in mind, especially now. And that's why I just signed an executive order wherein we have created the Office of Water Management," he said.

Malacañang has yet to issue a copy of the circular, which will be in effect until pending bills in Congress seeking to create a Department of Water Management are signed into law.

Marcos said he finds it ironic that the Philippines, being an archipelago, is being confronted with a water supply problem.

"We all know the Philippines is not a dry place, and why do we not have enough water?" he said.

The country must look at other countries like Israel that have efficient systems for water filtration, storage, and distribution, the President said.

Despite mostly being desert, Israel is able to harvest water during the rainy season in collection ponds where fish is also grown. "When the summer comes, they take the water, harvest the fish, and then that goes to irrigation efforts," he said.

Israel is able to harvest fresh water thrice a year. "Every bit of fresh water is used more than once," he added.

The President is pushing for the government to employ modern technology and strategies in managing water resources.

"I happened to have been given the opportunity to walk around a little bit and see some of the exhibitors. And it is very gratifying to note that in fact the technologies that are being used, that are being employed in terms of water treatment, in terms of water management are well-known technologies," he said.

On Thursday, Sen. Mary Grace Poe said the creation of a water management office is a timely intervention to the "creeping water crisis."

Poe said at least 30 line agencies of the government deal with the administration of water, resulting in policy and regulatory conflicts.

"We expect that this development lays down the groundwork for a more integrated and holistic approach to the water problem," the senator, who heads the Senate Committee on Public Services, said in a statement.

"A whole-of-government approach is also necessary to tackle the issues of sourcing and misuse of water in the country," she said.

Sen. Pilar Juliana "Pia" Cayetano appealed to fellow senators to ensure people's access to clean water.

In a privilege speech on Wednesday, Cayetano cited the connection of lack of access to clean water to the country's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

She was referring to SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being), SDG 5 (Gender Equality), SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), and SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities).

Cayetano said the Philippines, being a signatory to the United Nations 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda, is committed to integrating the SDGs into the national development plans and policies.

"So it is important that when we think of clean water and sanitation, we must also see it through a gender lens. Like most crises, the effects are never gender-neutral, and the effects on women are proportionally higher than men," she said.

Parts of southern Metro Manila and Cavite serviced by the Maynilad are already experiencing water cut-offs because one of its water treatment plants is being repaired.

On Thursday, the water concessionaire announced that the interruptions will continue even after the Holy Week.

Maynilad Spokesman Jennifer Rufo said the water supply is expected to normalize by mid-April when the Putatan Treatment Plant gets back in operation.

Residents in the affected areas complained that they had been experiencing water interruptions since December.

Maynilad said the problem is partly due to the northeast monsoon or amihan.

Rufo said that the amihan pushes the water of Laguna Lake towards the treatment plant. Because the lake has become shallow due to heavy siltation, sediments on the lake bed are stirred up and clog up the treatment plant.

Rufo said Maynilad is preparing for the dry season when water consumption rises by as much as 6 percent.

Deep wells will help ease the shortage and modular treatment plants are also being built, she said.