Press Release
July 31, 2007

CONVENE WATER TASK FORCE -- REVILLA

Senator Ramon Bong Revilla Jr. today called for the immediate forming of a multi-agency task force to deal with the on-going dry spell that has already caused damage to agricultural crops in the Ilocos Region and Central Luzon .

The senator suggested that the Department of Agriculture take the lead in the "Task Force Tubig" along with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, the Department of Public Works and Highways, the National Water Resources Board and other agencies.

During the El Niño crisis of 1997, then President Fidel Ramos convened a similar task force which enabled the country to ride the crisis better than its neighboring countries.

"The near-drought in Luzon calls for a more coordinated approach. Speaking with one voice and acting swiftly in unison will best arm the government in confronting this unfolding crisis," Revilla said.

"We do not want to raise undue alarm, but at least one province -La Union- has already declared a state of calamity," he stressed.

He said that if the prolonged dry spell goes on as predicted, damage to agricultural production will run into billions of pesos, setting back the country's vaunted economic growth substantially.

Revilla said that even the proposed national budget currently being drafted will need to be readjusted to consider the implications of the dry spell.

"It hurts badly because the areas affected are basically our main food baskets in Luzon ," he said. "It is not only crops that are affected but other agricultural sub-sectors like poultry, livestock and freshwater fishing," he added.

The senator also pointed out that while a dry spell haunts Luzon, there is excessive rainfall in Visayas and Mindanao which can also be detrimental to the agricultural production is those areas.

The proposed task force can best confront this "double whammy of a crisis" said Revilla.

"On our part, we will simply take the cue from the executive branch on how we can best contribute in providing a remedy or even a post-crisis solution by way of legislation, like realigning the national budget, "Revilla said.

In Metro Manila, at least six areas have been identified as likely to bear the impact of an impending water shortage due to insufficient rainfall. These areas are Tandang Sora, Project 7 and San Francisco del Monte in Quezon City ; San Antonio Valley in Parañaque City ; Sta. Mesa in Manila and some portions of Valenzuela as well as other elevated areas in Metro Manila.

Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) officials said a water crisis could occur because of an expected below normal average of rainfall in August.

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