By Christopher Lloyd Caliwan | PNA
MANILA — The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) on Wednesday said over 2 million households nationwide have benefitted from 4,963 completed potable water supply projects, which were administered by the agency through the Office of Project Development Services-Water Supply and Sanitation Project Management Office (OPDS-WSS PMO) since 2012.
Interior Undersecretary for Local Government Marivel Sacendoncillo said DILG is one of the 28 agencies involved in the implementation of national programs such as the Sagana at Ligtas na Tubig Para sa Lahat (SALINTUBIG), Bottom-up Budgeting (BuB)- Water Supply, Assistance to Municipalities (AM)- Water Supply, and Local Government Support Fund (LGSF)- Water.
Of the 4,963 completed projects, 1,468 were done through SALINTUBIG; 2,962 through BuB- Water; and 533 through AM- Water.
“Napakahalaga ng ginagawa natin dahil hindi tayo basta (What we are doing is significant because we are not just) DILG, whatever we do we contribute to the bigger picture on achieving and sustaining good local governance,” she said.
Amid the water shortage in some parts of Metro Manila, the DILG official said the agency will scale up this year its potable water supply projects in parts of the country, where there is no sufficient access to clean and safe water supply.
“The current water shortage in some parts of Metro Manila serves as a reminder for us to conserve water,” Sacendoncillo said.
For his part, Interior Undersecretary Jonathan E. Malaya called on the Philippine National Police (PNP), the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), and local government units (LGUs) to extend help in rationing water to affected communities of the water crisis in Metro Manila and nearby provinces.
Malaya urged local government leaders to be on top of water rationing efforts to avoid panic and chaos.
“We expect our LGU leaders to be proactive in aiding support to communities affected by the water shortage. Kailangang maramdaman ng ating mga kababayan sa mga barangay na kasama nila ang lokal na pamahalaan sa pagharap sa pagsubok na ito (The people in the communities need to feel that the local government is one with them in facing this challenge),” he said.
Meanwhile, Sacendoncillo led the opening of the photo exhibit held Monday afternoon as part of the series of activities in celebration of World Water Day (WWD) 2019 from March 18-22.
To showcase the DILG’s relentless efforts in the water sector, the Department launched the coffee table books “Tubig Para sa Lahat” Volumes 2 and 3 during the WWD celebration.
According to OPDS Director Rolyn Q. Zambales, the coffee table books featured stories of hope, change, and triumph such as Tatay Danilo Lolong of Buenavista, Marinduque; 14-year old Glensy Calizo of Pola, Oriental Mindoro, and 11-year-old Jose Pallo of Magsaysay, Occidental Mindoro, who have benefitted from the completed potable water supply projects in their respective communities.
“The stories of Tatay Danilo, Glensy and Jose are just three of the 2 million stories that put faces behind the numbers of the 4,963 completed potable water supply projects. These stories remind us that while we have done so much, there are still many more to be done as we aim to achieve zero waterless communities by 2030,” Zambales said.
Printed copies of Tubig Para sa Lahat volumes 2 and 3 were distributed to the DILG and partner agencies both during the book launching and photo exhibit. Flipbook versions of these coffee table books can also be viewed from the DILG website.
