by Priam Nepomuceno/PNA
The government will do everything it can to provide clean water for everyone, National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) Executive Director Ricardo Jalad said Wednesday.
“We want to assure the public that the government is doing everything to ensure adequate water supply for all,” Jalad said in a statement sent to reporters.
The NDRRMC Technical Management Group convened a meeting with concerned government and private agencies at about 2 p.m. Wednesday, to discuss updates and plans to mitigate the effects of the El Niño weather phenomenon in the country.
Present were Jalad, Department of Science and Technology Undersecretary Ricardo Solidum, and representatives of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources – National Water Resource Board, Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration, the departments of social welfare, agriculture, education, energy, and interior, National Economic and Development Authority, National Power Corp., National Electrification Authority, Armed Forces of the Philippines, Bureau of Fire Protection, Philippine National Police, Philippine Coast Guard, Local Water Utilities Administration, Metropolitan Manila Development Authority, Commission on Elections, and Office of Civil Defense (OCD).
Private groups, such as the Philippine Disaster Resilience Foundation, as well as water concessionaires, Maynilad and Manila Water, were also in attendance.
The OCD offices in the Zamboanga Peninsula, Davao region, Soccsksargen, and Mimaropa also participated through teleconference.
“NDRRMC member-agencies shall submit their respective Action Plans (with) regard to the impact of El Niño to the OCD by 15 March 2019. These will be consolidated and presented at the NDRRMC Full Council Meeting on 20 March 2019. (In the) meantime, everyone is encouraged to remain calm, avoid water wastage, and always practice sustainable water management in their respective homes,” Jalad said.
