ECCP CALLS FOR CZAR TO OVERSEE WATER ASSETS
The European Chamber of Commerce in the Philippines is also urging the country to look into water technologies being used in Europe
TO ADDRESS the water crisis, the European Chamber of Commerce in the Philippines (ECCP) is pushing for the country to have a water czar to oversee the country’s water assets.
Florian Gottein, executive director of the ECCP, said the country needs a Department of Water.
“We’ve been highlighting for several years that there would be a water challenge. That there will be a water shortage, not only here in Cebu, but also in Metro Manila and we have to address that,” he said.
Cebu was placed under a state of calamity following an estimated P100 million damage in agriculture, fishery and livelihood in 27 local government units because of the dry spell.
The Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office has P59 million in its quick response funds, P25 million of which will be used as assistance for the affected LGUs.
Gottein said European companies, some in the water sector, are interested in being part of the Duterte administration’s Build, Build, Build program.
He said the country should focus managing its water resources by taking advantage of water innovations available in Europe.
“At the moment, to some extent, we should be managing valuable resources like water. Together with the other foreign chambers, our stand is to create a Department of Water and one water czar who is really responsible in running it,” he said.
Mercedes Zobel, director of ECCP, said Europe has various technological innovations to help the government address the water crisis.
“The technical innovation that’s coming from Europe is there which we’re not really using here, and I think we can expedite solving all the problems we have here if we have these technologies and partnerships,” she said.
In Cebu City, 6,000 households were affected by the weak El Niño, with the Buhisan Dam drying up and unable to supply water.