Tolentino bats for water department

Former presidential political adviser and now PDP-Laban senatorial candidate Francis Tolentino has stressed the need to establish a department that will manage the country’s water resources and act on problems such as water crisis.

He said the move is a long-term solution to the water crisis that the country, particularly Metro Manila, has been experiencing as one of the effects of El Niño.

“Pangmatagalang solusyon po ang pagkakaroon ng Department of Water Resources Management na kinakailangang maisabatas sa lalong madaling panahon (Having a Department of Water Resources Management is a long-term solution that needs to be legalized as soon as possible),” Tolentino said.

“Ang isyu ng climate change na siyang ugat ng El Niño at ng iba pang mga matitinding kalamidad ay hindi na ma-re-reverse, subalit maaaring mabawasan ang epekto nito lalung-lalo na sa kalusugan at kabuhayan ng mga tao. Dapat lamang na maging mabilis ang aksyon ng pamahalaan sa mga pagkakatong ito (The issue of climate change that roots from El Niño and other calamities cannot be reversed but we can lessen its effects especially on the health and work of people if the government will quickly act on it),” he said.

He also called on the public to do necessary preparations for the extreme heat and longer water crisis.

He also proposed to conduct cloud seeding above the dams to help increase the water level there.

Tolentino also called on the Department of Interior and Local Government and the Bureau of Fire Protection to assist affected local government units in using fire trucks for water distribution in the communities.