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MMDA, in partnership with Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS), National Water Resources Board (NWRB), and Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), in cooperation with Maynilad and Manila Water, will come together today to launch Oplan Tubig Para sa Kinabukasan. Makibalita, Maghanda, Magkaisa.
This is a campaign for the responsible use of water that aims to enjoin Metro Manila, Cavite, Rizal and Bulacan residents to use water responsibly, rain or shine. It seems to encourage everyone to be informed of the current water situation; to be prepared at all times in cases of water shortage and to be involved in a greater cause of using water conscientiously.
Main personalities present at the Oplan Tubig Para Sa Kinabukasan press launch were NWRB Exec. Dir. Dr. Sevillo David, Jr., MMDA Chairman Gen. Danilo Lim, and Mr. Ronald Abrigo representing MWSS Administrator Lt. Gen. Emmanuel Salamat.
Also present, but did not join the panel interview, were Manila Water Pres. & CEO Rene Almendras, and Maynilad Pres. & CEO Ramoncito Fernandez,
I have videos of MMDA Chairman Gen. Danilo Lim encouraging people to save on water thru proper use, and an exclusive interview with NWRB Exec. Dir. Dr. Sevillo David, Jr.,
The question I asked with regards to their statement of using deep wells as merely a back-up supply for water needs:
Why not make deep wells the primary source of water for households, at least for usage like watering the plants, cleaning the yard, to flush the toilet, etc., that does not need purely clean water, and if there are concerns for hygience or thorough cleanliness, why not setup filtration systems so that water will be clean for usage.
Manila Water and Maynilad provisions could just be used for showering, washing plates, and others that require cleaner water.
At home we don't drink water from the faucet but we buy from refilling stations where water is either distilled or purified or both.
They could also identify spots at local barangays to construct deep wells. This will reduce water consumption from the two main water providers.
However, the NWRB representative said that, as per study, there would be certain dangers on the geology - under the ground or soil conditions that could eventually endanger lives if everyone will be setting up deep wells.
Which makes me wonder why, at our own home in Metro Manila and in the province, we are able to use deep wells for several years already, 40 years or more, but we never noticed or felt any disturbance or changes on our property that could be seen as alarming or threatening.
If there is indeed a study narrating impending danger, where is it? Where can we find it? I'm sure finding a way to prevent whatever danger is better than asking every household to limit their water usage. How many years more before we experience the supposedly negative effect of using deep well at our home?
It is already a given that we save on water because we will pay more if we don't. So this campaign is merely reminding us of something we are already doing. Well, at least in our home. But I'm sure everyone is conscious of this water saving.
So I'm curious of what is really the motive behind this campaign? Are we in for another water shortage soon? Will the water level at Angat Dam be soon not enough to provide for the mentioned areas Metro Manila and neighboring Rizal, Bulacan, etc? Thus, the effort to launch a campaign like this?
They are having a 1 Liter Water Challenge with their hashtag #1LTubigChallenge which was meant to have you use only 1 Liter of water to do several tasks. Still, this aims to lessen our water consumption...so maybe there is really an impending danger of water shortage because the two water providers, as a business, will prefer us to use more so they will earn and profit more. Yet, they are in partnership or full support of this campaign.
What gives? Part of their CSR program? Maybe?
Here is the official press release from the event:
National Government Agencies Collaborate for Responsible Use of Water Campaign
The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), in partnership with the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System, National Water Resources Board, and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), have come together last November 29, 2019 to launch “Oplan Tubig Para sa Kinabukasan”- a responsible use of water campaign that aims to enjoin Metro Manila, Rizal, Cavite and Bulacan residents to use water responsibly, rain or shine.
“Oplan Tubig Para sa Kinabukasan” seeks to encourage everyone to be informed of the current water situation; to be prepared at all times in cases of water shortage and to be involved in a greater cause of using water conscientiously.
“We all need water to live and we can all do something to ensure that we continuously enjoy this precious resource even in our own little ways,''said MMDA Chairman Danilo Lim.
Under this initiative, several call-to-action videos and art cards featuring Metro Manila, Cavite and Rizal mayors and governors will be developed and shared on social media with the intent to reach and create a bigger impact not only to those living in Metro Manila, but to Filipinos in general.
“There is clearly a need for us to work together in this campaign especially with our current water situation. We need to reach as many Filipinos as we can and educate them on how we can help from the demand side,” Chairman Lim added.
According to NWRB Executive Director, Dr. Sevillo David, there are more than 15 million people who are getting water from Angat Dam, and this number continues to grow each year.
MWSS Administrator, Lt. Gen. Emmanuel Salamat encourages everyone to be responsible in using water and to prepare especially for the dry season. “We have limited water supply and it will take years for us to have new water sources,” he said.
With DILG’s participation in the campaign, “Oplan Tubig Para sa Kinabukasan” is hopeful to get its message across cities and municipalities.
“We hope that with this campaign, individuals and communities will be inspired and encouraged to use water responsibly and to abide by the water-related initiatives set by their respective LGUs,” said DILG Sec. Eduardo Año.
For more information on the campaign, visit its official Facebook Page: Oplan Tubig Para Sa Kinabukasan:
#OplanTubigParaSaKinabukasan
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Ross is known as the Pambansang Blogger ng Pilipinas - An Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Professional by profession and a Social Media Evangelist by heart.
