MANILA, Philippines- Hinikayat ni Senador Grace Poe niton Biyernes ang private sector na Makipagtulungan sa gobyerno upang matiyak ang sapat ang sustainable water management at mabibigyan ng ligtas na tubig na inumin at sanitasyon ng mamamayan.
“Developing the water sector cannot be accomplished by the government alone. The private sector, civil society, and community-based organizations should also be involved in the delivery of water supply, sanitation, and septage services to end-users,” ayon kay Poe sa statement.
“Simply put: Our tubig (water) sector is too big. So, before we all sink, we need nothing less than a Titanic reform to prevent a Titanic disaster,” giit pa ng senador.
Sa Pilipinas, ayon kay Poe, dalawa sa bawat sampung pamilya ang walang access sa pinahusay na tubig na inumin; 2 naman mula sa 10 pamilya ang walang palikuran; at tatlo sa bawat sampung pamilyang Filipino ang walang hand-washing facility.
Base sa pag-aaral ng National Economic and Development Authority, umaabot lamang ang water availability per person sa bansa sa 1,553 m³ (cubic meters) kada taon.
“This is worrisome because 1,553 m³/year falls below the international ‘water stress’ threshold of 1,700 m³/year and approaches the ‘water scarcity’ threshold of 1,000 m³/year,” ayon kay Poe.
Iginiit pa ni Poe ang kanyang panawagan na lumikha ng Department of Water Resources, saying the country’s water woes are “too big” to be met by fragmented responses.
“A regulatory authority is necessary to ensure efficient allocation of this scarce resource. In addition to this important task, a regulator is also needed to determine just rates for water services,” ayon kay Poe.
“Water is indispensable for leading a life in human dignity. Let us work together to lift the floodgates of bureaucracy, attain sustainable consumption and production, and ensure that clean water flows to every household like a mighty stream,” paliwanagpa niya.
Nakabinbin sa antas ng komite ang Senate Bill 102 o ang National Water Resource Management Act na inihain ni Poe, na naglalayong lumikha ng bagong ahensiya na may pangunahing tungkulin na gumawa ng patakaran, koordinasyon at tagapagpatupad na ahensiya na magiging responsiable para sa comprehensive at integrated development at management ng water resources sa Pilipinas. Ernie Reyes
