Atin Ito First Filipino Community Newspaper in Ontario
President Marcos has ordered relevant government agencies to expedite the completion of water projects as he stressed the importance of water security amid the ongoing El Niño phenomenon.
Marcos said this as he led the inauguration of the Davao City Bulk Water Supply Project in Barangay Gumalang, Davao City on Wednesday, Feb. 7.
In his speech, the President said he had ordered agencies to complete water projects immediately as he stressed that the collaboration between the public and private sectors effectively addresses water scarcity amid the dry spell.
The Davao City Bulk Water Supply Project is a public-private partnership (PPP) project between the Apo Agua Infrastructura, Inc. (Apo Agua), a water subsidiary of Aboitiz InfraCapital (AIC), and the Davao City Water District (DCWD).
“What this demonstrates is a proven approach to battling water scarcity— which is no longer a seasonal challenge but a perpetual threat that comes with climate change,” he said.
“It is for this reason that I continue to stress the urgency of improving water security and directed agencies concerned to expedite the completion of all water projects across the country,” he added.
Meanwhile, Marcos said it was important for the government to be one step ahead regarding issues such as water supply as they degrade the quality of life, dampen economic activity, and fuel disorder.
“Of all emergencies, water scarcity is the hardest to contain. It is, however, preventable with foresight, right plans, united action, and strong political will,” he said.
“Anticipating problems instead of letting them catch us by surprise is how we approach these challenges in the Bagong Pilipinas. We prepare for contingencies, resolve problems, and diffuse potential crises before they occur,” he added.
The Davao City Bulk Water Supply Project is touted to be the largest of its kind in the Philippines at 300 million liters daily (MLD) with a 70-kilometer pipeline.
According to Malacañang, the project addresses the water needs of over 1 million Davaoeños and augments Davao City’s reliance on groundwater sources by tapping Tamugan River while ensuring that the water quality meets the Philippine National Standards for Drinking Water.
Its water treatment facility is powered by a pioneering innovation called the ‘water-energy nexus concept’ – a first in Southeast Asia. It is raw water will first pass through the run-of-river hydroelectric power plant to generate energy, which will be used to power the water treatment facility and produce treated water.
“This treated water will be distributed to DCWD’s reservoirs, creating an environmentally conscious and efficient water supply cycle,” Malacañang said. — Argyll Cyrus Geducos
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Credit belongs to: www.mb.com.ph
