Marcos orders NIA to make use of rainwater as clean, potable water source

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has ordered the proper use of rainwater to make it a clean and potable water source.

In a recent Malacañan Palace meeting with the National Irrigation Administration (NIA), Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), and Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Irrigation Administrator Eddie Guillen said the President emphasized the need to utilize NIA’s water rights multi-purpose.

“We all know that during the rainy season, we don’t really use irrigation anymore. So, what the President wants is for the water rights of NIA to be used for bulk water for drinking,” Guillen said, noting that 40 million Filipinos lack access to potable water.

The President urged NIA and DPWH to ensure rainwater is used effectively instead of flowing to the sea. He suggested using Sabo dams for multiple purposes, including tourism and irrigation.

Following the meeting, NIA and DPWH secured P77 billion for rainwater conservation and irrigation projects in a three-day discussion with Speaker Martin Romualdez.

“This is a big deal because we know how efficient DPWH is in constructing projects. NIA alone can’t handle this, because our engineers are limited, but DPWH, they have a lot of resources,” Guillen said.

“So, this is the essence of unity that our President is talking about, the whole of government approach where if we just communicate, our money won’t be wasted, it will go a long way,” he added.