Marcos taps private sector vs El Niño

PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is asking the private sector to help the government boost its efforts to ensure adequate water supply, particularly in areas that will be adversely affected by the El Niño phenomenon.

The President made the call as he led the inauguration of Maynilad's Poblacion Water Treatment Plant (WTP) in Muntinlupa City.

In his speech, Marcos acknowledged the project's timeliness, given the ongoing El Niño that is feared to last until the second quarter of 2024.

«With El Niño projected to last until the second quarter of 2024, we must prioritize the repair of water pipes to prevent leakages and the completion of ongoing water supply projects to ensure that we have adequate supply,» Marcos said.

«And so, let us call upon the pertinent government agencies to intensify their vigilance in overseeing the construction of water supply facilities, particularly in regions grappling with water scarcity,» he added.

The P11-billion Poblacion WTP is Maynilad's third facility that taps into Laguna Lake as an alternate source of raw water. It aims to supply an additional 150 million liters per day of water to consumers in Parañaque, Las Piñas, Muntinlupa and Cavite.

The facility is part of Maynilad's P220-billion Service Enhancement Program from 2023 to 2027, which seeks to promote enhanced water sustainability and climate resilience.

Marcos encouraged the private sector to continue working with the government to provide a clean water supply to consumers across the country.

«As we confront present and future challenges, this project is a testament to the positive outcomes that we might achieve when the public and private sectors unite for the common good,» Marcos said.

«I invite the private sector once more to further explore opportunities to collaborate with the government in addressing our water supply challenges,» he added.

Meanwhile, Marcos said the country could maintain good food buffer stock until early next year.

«We must prepare and apply some of the lessons that we have learned during the pandemic when it comes to the supply of agricultural products, of food, of the efficiency of the supply chain — all of these will be affected if our water resources are