President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. ordered the proper use and disposal of rainwater by making it a clean and potable water source, National Irrigation Administration (NIA) Administrator Eddie Guillen said on Saturday.
In a news forum in Quezon City, Guillen said the President had a meeting with NIA, Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in Malacañan Palace.
Recalling the said meeting, Guillen reiterated President Marcos’ directive of making NIA’s water rights multi-purpose.
“Alam naman natin na kapag sa irigasyon kapag tag-ulan ay hindi na nga namin nagagamit iyon eh. So, ang gusto ng ating Pangulo iyong water rights ng NIA, puwedeng gawin na magamit sa bulk water sa inumin,” Guillen said.
Guillen mentioned the DENR in reporting that 40 million Filipinos have no direct access to potable water.
“Now, in-identify din ng DENR doon sa kanilang report kung nasaan iyong mga irrigation facilities ng NIA. Tandaan po natin sa utos ng ating Pangulong BBM, ginawa pong multi-purpose ang water rights ng NIA because the whole more than 70 percent ng lahat ng water rights ng buong bansa pero ginagamit lang namin siya sa irrigation” Guillen said.
“So, bakit pini-pinpoint ng DENR kung saan iyong facilities ng NIA kasi sinasabi nila na marami pong facilities na nandoon sa tabi ng mga cities ‘no. So, kailangan lang natin ng investor diyan para ma-treat, ma-purify, ma-treat itong tubig na ito at madi-distribute ng LWUA (Local Water Utilities Administration) iyan ‘ang idea diyan,” he added.
Guillen also said the President urged NIA and DPWH to work together in ensuring that rainwater will not divert to the sea as waste but rather be used effectively.
“So, sabi ng Pangulo, hindi iyan acceptable (rainwater to the sea), sabi niya. So you have to talk with NIA, tulungan ka ni Eddie kasi maraming request na mga dams iyan, puwede mo naman sabi niya gamitin ninyo iyong mga Sabo dams, kasi tandaan po natin during the term of our President as governor in Ilocos Norte, doon po na-construct iyong Laoag River Basin na kung saan nag-construct po sila ng maraming Sabo dams ‘no at alam ng ating Pangulo na that same Sabo dam ay puwedeng pakinabangan ng NIA for our irrigation purposes,” Guillen added.
“Isipin mo ang mahal sa construction sabi ng ating Pangulo iyong foundation ng isang dam. Eh ang Sabo dam kasi, ang intensiyon niya is for sedimentation control. Pero pagtalon ng tubig doon sa Sabo dam puwede rin naman lagyan using the same foundation, so wala nang gastos, lagyan mo ng diversion dam. So ano ang mangyari – mayroon ka nang pang-tourism dahil magkakaroon ng waterfalls, mayroon pang swimming pool, mayroon ka pang diversion dam, iyon ang idea ng ating Pangulo eh,” he added.
Guillen said the President is also pushing to build better, purposeful irrigation projects.
Following the meeting in Malacanang, officials of the NIA, DPWH, and other congressmen also had a three-day meeting with Speaker Martin Romualdez concerning the comments of the President, particularly on conserving rainwater and to get support in flood control and irrigation facility, Guillen said they have garnered PhP77 billion.
“Malaking bagay po ito kasi alam natin kung gaano ka-efficient ang DPWH sa pag-construct ng project. Hindi ho ito kakayanin ng NIA lang, kasi limited nga po ang aming engineers, but DPWH napakarami nilang resources,” Guillen said.
“So, ito po iyong essence ng unity na sinasabi ng ating Pangulo, iyong whole of government approach na kung mag-usap lamang kami hindi masasayang iyong pera natin, marami pong kapupuntahan,” he stressed.
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