Water is in abundance in the Philippines
Water is in abundance in the Philippines |
MANILA, Philippines - Water is in abundance in the Philippines, but ironically, officials say 250 out of 1,600 communities, mostly in 5th class municipalities, don't have access to clean water.
"Water has never been a problem in the Philippines, unlike Africa or the Middle East where water availability is the problem," said Environment Secretary Ramon Paje.
He blames it on poor management, the lack of infrastructure, and pollution.
"Water is a problem globally. It has become a vital resource not only for consumption but also for power. If we are not treating the water well, then we have a problem, even if we have so much water available to us," Paje said on ANC's "Dateline Philippines" Sunday.
"Water has never been a problem in the Philippines, unlike Africa or the Middle East where water availability is the problem," said Environment Secretary Ramon Paje.
He blames it on poor management, the lack of infrastructure, and pollution.
"Water is a problem globally. It has become a vital resource not only for consumption but also for power. If we are not treating the water well, then we have a problem, even if we have so much water available to us," Paje said on ANC's "Dateline Philippines" Sunday.
Water Sources
Water Sources |
Paje cited the case of the Pasig River, which could have been a major water source for Metro Manila.
But since it is not obviously suitable, Metro Manila sources most of its water needs from the Angat dam.
“Angat should be irrigating Bulacan, not Metro Manila. The National Water Resources Board says we have 146 billion cubic meters stored in lakes, rives, watersheds, underground water. We are not consuming half of that because of pollution, poor infrastructure and management. Pasig is an example of how we bastardized our water system,” he said.
Some communities have also started to source water from the ground via deep wells, raising prospects of over-extraction and salt water intrusion, he noted.
"In southern Manila, we monitored the lowering of the water table. There is tendency of water intrusion, water from the sea mixing. If you make water salty, you can’t drink it anymore, forever,” he warned.
"We have so much surface water. We have to consume surface water. If we only clean surface water, we don't have to extract from underground,” he added.
The government is not without any rehabilitation efforts, he said. In Alabang, for example, residents are now tapping the Laguna Lake for 100 million liters of potable water and they hope to increase these to 300 million liters in two years’ time.
The government is also now looking at banning logging in natural forest areas, constructing water impounding dams to be able to regulate water releases, and cleaning rivers and lakes.
Laser solution
"The President is focused on the issue. We identified problems, solutions are precise. The laser solution is rehabilitating our watersheds, impounding dams and cleaning river systems,” he said.
"Executive Order 26 mandates massive tree planting, asking students and government employees to plant 10 trees per year. We're now mandating it as a requirement for graduation,” he stressed.
Paje added the government is also trying hard to solve the solid waste problem that ends up in the country's water system.
"If we stop the dumping, the water system can clean itself. The problem is environmental consciousness and discipline,” he said. "We are trying hard to penalize violators of littering. I've proposed to require them community service."
Paje said the municipality of Muñoz in Nueva Ecija built small water impounding dams with an elevation of one to two meters.
Because of this, Muñoz is now 100% irrigated. From a fifth class municipality, it has become a "science city" with a 100% increase in its productivity.
Environmental protection
Environmental protection |
Paje said Filipinos must exercise discipline and stop treating water as a limitless resource.
"Environmental protection is not the monopoly of the DENR. It is the responsibility of every citizen of this country,” he said.
"We treat water as a free resource. That is bad, brushing your teeth and allowing the tap to flow, that is very bad. You can't do that in the Middle East or in Africa. We have to change lifestyles,” he stressed.
"We have to ask people to practice environmentalism. We have partnered with the Department of Education [so that] Environmental Science [becomes a] part of the curriculum. What we are trying to do is put it in every step of the way like in education, infrastructure, greening buildings, power your daily activities,” he said.
Paje said the DENR is also trying to penalize violators of littering as well as requiring companies to provide two water lines--a green line for drinking and a brown line for recycled water for various uses.
Paje said 2 companies are now facing some P200 million in penalties for not complying with the Clean Water Act.
"Environmental protection is not the monopoly of the DENR. It is the responsibility of every citizen of this country,” he said.
"We treat water as a free resource. That is bad, brushing your teeth and allowing the tap to flow, that is very bad. You can't do that in the Middle East or in Africa. We have to change lifestyles,” he stressed.
"We have to ask people to practice environmentalism. We have partnered with the Department of Education [so that] Environmental Science [becomes a] part of the curriculum. What we are trying to do is put it in every step of the way like in education, infrastructure, greening buildings, power your daily activities,” he said.
Paje said the DENR is also trying to penalize violators of littering as well as requiring companies to provide two water lines--a green line for drinking and a brown line for recycled water for various uses.
Paje said 2 companies are now facing some P200 million in penalties for not complying with the Clean Water Act.
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