“Bansa tayong napaliligiran ng tubig pero uhaw at tuyot ang milyon-milyong Pilipino sa ligtas na inumin.”
This is what Cong. Wilbert “Manoy” T. Lee lamented as he filed a measure which aims to construct a potable water supply system throughout the country in three years to address the need of millions of Filipinos, especially in rural areas.
Under Lee’s House Bill (HB) No. 10531 or the “Rural Potable Water Supply Act”, the construction of potable water supply system will be led by the National Water Resources Board, in coordination with the Department of Health (DOH), DENR, Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH). The program shall prioritize areas with social and health problems due to waterborne diseases.
Lee, who recently visited Bulacan to address the graduates of the Bulacan Agricultural State College as guest speaker, said: “Nakababahala ang datos mula sa DENR (Department of Environment and Natural Resources) na 40 milyong Pilipino ang walang access sa malinis at ligtas na tubig. This is a basic human right pero patuloy na naipagkakait sa napakarami nating mga kababayan. Nasaan ang hustisya?”
“Sabi nga, ‘ang tubig ay buhay’. Kaya napakalaking kasalanan sa taumbayan kung ito pa ang maglalagay sa kanilang buhay sa peligro dahil sa kawalan o kontaminadong supply.”
“Sa kawalan ng malinis at ligtas na inumin, nadaragdagan pa ang pangamba ng milyon-milyong Pilipino, dahil kung magkasakit sila ay hindi sila makapapasok sa trabaho, mawawalan ng kita, masisimot ang ipon o malulubog sa utang sa pagbili ng gamot o pagpapa-ospital,” the Bicolano lawmaker said.
Under Lee’s House Bill (HB) No. 10531 or the “Rural Potable Water Supply Act”, the construction of potable water supply system will be led by the National Water Resources Board, in coordination with the Department of Health (DOH), DENR, Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH). The program shall prioritize areas with social and health problems due to waterborne diseases.
Further, the said measure outlines program guidelines which include equitable distribution in provinces and municipalities, participation of local government units (LGUs), and the management and maintenance of the potable water supply system that will be constructed.
HB 10531 is aligned with the earlier order of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. for the DENR to come up with concrete solutions to provide sufficient water supply to at least 40 million Filipinos who have no access to fresh water.
According to National Irrigation Administration (NIA) Administrator Eduardo Eddie Guillen, the President also recently ordered the proper use and disposal of rainwater by making it a clean and potable water source.
“Hindi tayo dapat maging manhid sa napakahirap na sitwasyon na matagal nang tinitiis ng marami nating kababayan, lalo na sa mga liblib na lugar. Hindi porke may pambili o may access tayo sa malinis na tubig, ay wala na tayong pakialam sa mga kababayan natin, kabilang na ang mga bata, na iniinom ang tubig kahit na kontaminado at alam nilang pwede silang magkasakit,” Lee said.
“The Filipinos deserve better, so we should demand better water supply system that would cater to every community in the country. Gamitin natin ang pondo ng gobyerno sa mga makabuluhang proyekto tulad ng pagtatayo ng mga pasilidad na mag-su-supply ng ligtas na inumin sa ating mga kababayan.”
“Winner Tayo Lahat kapag may access ang bawat pamilya sa ligtas at malinis na tubig, sa sapat, masustansya at murang pagkain, at kung hindi tayo nangangamba na mawalan ng kabuhayan at kita dahil sa pagkakasakit,” he added.
Once enacted into law, an initial appropriation of 500 million pesos will be provided for the implementation of the Act with subsequent allocations to be included in the annual General Appropriations Act (GAA) until the program is completed.
