POTABLE WATER IN BATANGAS AND OTHER EL NIÑO-HIT
PROVINCES URGED

Batangas Province- Senator Ramon Bong Revilla Jr. today reiterated his concern on the supply of potable water in the provinces that are affected by the El Nino phenomenon saying that the government should give attention to the basic needs of the people.

According to the reelectionist senator, about 80 percent of the residents in the countryside have no access to safe and clean drinking water. "Ironically, the Philippines is a water-rich country and yet we cannot supply our people with adequate water. Through an improved water utility system, economic growth in a community speeds up, safeguards public health, and protects the well-being of the citizenry," Bong Revilla said.

He further pointed out that the country is always caught off-guard whenever there is El Nino phenomenon. He expressed alarm on the thousands of hectares of rice lands that will go to waste if the government fails to address the water problem in the affected provinces.

Apart from Northern Luzon , Batangas is one of the areas vulnerable to El Niño phenomenon. Other areas include Abra, Apayao, Benguet, Ifugao, Mt. Province , Nueva Vizcaya, Quirino, Laguna, Quezon, Romblon, Sorsogon, Aklan, Antique, Bohol, Samar, Zamboanga Norte, Zamboanga Sibugay, Zamboanga Sur, Bukidnon, Davao Oriental, Davao Sur and Davao City . The lawmaker stressed the need to pass his bill that would provide funds for the Local Water Utility Administration (LWUA) purposely to install facilities in the countryside that will manage and supply water. The LWUA is a specialized lending institution mandated by law to promote and oversee the development of provincial waterworks systems in the country.

He explained that the long-term benefits can be derived by communities in the provinces for having a water district, not only in addressing dry spell season but also on the aspect of health and sanitation. "Water users are provided a first line of defense against water-borne diseases such as amoebiasis and typhoid fever since only disinfected and potable water is made available to every concessioner's home. Residents from far flung villages in the rural areas would no longer face the risk of fetching and using water from community wells and springs that may be unsafe," he said.

In order to reach the Filipino people in all provinces and regions during the campaign period, Bong Revilla launched the "Pinoy Ikaw ang Idol" caravan, starting from Luzon . "I want to accommodate all our countrymen's invitation as long as possible, even just for a short visit. That's why we are conducting this grand caravan to maximize time. I want to personally thank our people who supported us all the way and at the same time consult them so that we will know what other measures that can be done by legislators to ease their plight," he added.