MANILA – The government is now finalizing a road map in mitigating the effects of El Niño and water shortage. Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said in his statement today, the road map was presented last night during the 36th Cabinet meeting. “The Cabinet then discussed the first item on the agenda, which is mitigating the effects of El Niño and water shortage,” Sec. Panelo said.
According to Sec. Panelo, the road map includes immediate, medium and long-term interventions such as making an intensive campaign for the conservation of water and energy. Creating a Department of Water and a Department of Disaster Resilience, dredging of waterways, replacing tunnels and aqueducts, installing water tank systems in all Department of Health hospitals and providing funding for the establishment of water treatment plants.
After the discussion of the road map, National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Undersecretary Adoracion Navarro presented the proposed Executive Order (EO) on transforming and strengthening the National Water Resources Board (NWRB).
The EO, according to Usec. Navarro will merge the NWRB and the River Basin Control Office into the National Water Management Council (NWMC) and aims to streamline and consolidate planning and regulation of all water and river basins in the country.
During the same Cabinet meeting, Pres. Duterte directed the Solicitor-General and the Secretary of Justice to study the case of Maynilad vs. Republic and “instructed all agencies to check and review all contracts entered into and remove onerous provisions that might be detrimental to the lives of the Filipinos.”
