Marcos stresses El Niño water supply measures; taps private sector

Manila Bulletin

President Marcos has called on relevant government agencies to boost their efforts to ensure there would be enough supply of water in the areas projected to be gravely affected by the looming El Niño phenomenon.  READ MORE: https://mb.com.ph/2023/12/15/marcos-wants-intensified-water-supply-measures-private-sector-collab-vs-el-nino

Transcript

00:00 I am very pleased to be here today joining you in the inauguration of Manila's Poblacion

00:11 Water Treatment Plant.

00:13 This will provide clean and potable water to residents in Metro Manila and its surrounding

00:18 areas.

00:20 I extend my greetings to our distinguished guests, private partners, local government

00:25 officials and community leaders who have played a crucial role in making this project a reality.

00:33 It is a testament to our shared commitment to water security and sustainability.

00:39 We stand on the brink of completing this crucial project, a necessity heightened by the current

00:45 challenge posed by the El Niño phenomenon.

00:49 Our collective efforts ensure that we exceed the demands of our people in these trying

00:56 times.

00:57 With the El Niño projected to last until the second quarter of 2024, we must prioritize

01:04 the repair of water pipes to prevent leakages and the completion of ongoing water supply

01:10 projects to ensure that we have adequate supply.

01:15 And so, let us call upon the pertinent agencies to intensify their vigilance in overseeing

01:22 the construction of water supply facilities, particularly in regions grappling with water

01:28 scarcity.

01:30 As we confront present and future challenges, this project is a testament to the positive

01:36 outcomes that we might achieve when the public and private sectors unite for the greater

01:42 good.

01:43 I invite the private sector once more to further explore opportunities to collaborate with

01:48 government in addressing our water supply challenges.

01:53 Let us continue to work together so that we can provide our people with the best quality

01:57 services that they truly deserve.

02:01 Water, although we refer to water and the supply of water as a service, I am of the

02:08 view that it is in fact a right of our people to be able to expect their government to put

02:16 systems into place so that water is available to all households, to industry, to agriculture.

02:24 These are the main uses of water that we have and so that we still must continue to develop

02:31 all our capabilities.

02:34 The focus has sharpened with the onset, with the forecasted onset of El Niño, which at

02:43 the very least will be with us over the first quarter of next year.

02:48 And unfortunately, the latest forecast show that there is a distinct possibility that

02:56 it will last until the second quarter of next year.

03:00 And therefore, we must prepare.

03:03 We must prepare and learn some of the, and apply some of the lessons that we have learned

03:09 during the pandemic when it came to supply of agricultural products, of food, of the

03:18 efficiencies of the supply chain.

03:20 All of this will be affected if our water resources are inadequate.

03:27 And so, and that is why we have now begun in government a very accelerated effort to

03:34 prepare for that.

03:36 We, for all intents and purposes, we have a good buffer until maybe the end of the first

03:44 quarter.

03:45 Now, what we need to do is to prepare a further capacity so that should the El Niño extend

03:55 to the second quarter of next year, we are still at the very least able to supply potable

04:02 water, especially in the urban areas.

04:05 We are able to supply our agriculture.

04:07 We are able to supply our industry.

04:10 And one of the elements that we have sometimes do not think about, we think about those major

04:20 uses of water.

04:21 We also have to be thinking about our hospitals.

04:25 Hospitals cannot operate without water.

04:28 And with the onset of a drought, that will become more and more important as it goes

04:34 on.

04:35 And so, these are the issues that are confronting us now.

04:41 But with projects such as these and the further following projects, I was looking at the brief,

04:47 there is another one here in Mandaluyong and I think there are three more in Cavite.

04:52 And that is all to the good.

04:55 And we have to get those facilities built and operating so that we can consider ourselves

05:04 at least minimally ready for the arrival of the drought that will be coming next year.

05:14 Now, I do not mean to frighten anyone off, but it is a serious problem.

05:21 But we are familiar with the capabilities of both private sector and public sector.

05:28 Put us together and there's much that we can do.

05:32 And let us do that so that we have done our duty to the people and continue to provide,

05:39 as I said, what I consider their right to availability of clean, fresh water.

05:47 So sa bagong Pilipinas na sinisikap natin na itaguyod ngayon, hiling ko ang pagkikilaho

05:54 ng bawat isa upang mapatibay ang ating mga imprastaktura at mapabuti ang kalagayan ng

06:01 ating mga mamamayan.

06:02 Maraming salamat sa inyong lahat.

06:05 Maraming salamat sa inyong ginagawa sa tulong ninyo para sa taong bayan.

06:10 Mabuhay ang bagong Pilipinas.

06:12 Magandang umaga sa inyong lahat.

06:14 And Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

06:17 [BLANK_AUDIO]

06:25 [BLANK_AUDIO]

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