Weh? Minority lawmaker skeptical of assurance of ample power, water supply during El Niño

HINDI tayo naniniwala at umaasa sa mga pangako na kesyo sapat daw ang supply ng kuryente at tubig ngayong El Niño. Dati na kasi tayong nadala mga ganyang pangako nitong mga nagdaang taon ngunit hindi naman natupad.

Proof of our skepticism on the power supply are the blackouts that crippled Panay Island and Guimaras and parts of Negros Oriental. Add also the perennial brownouts that plague Mindoro Island and the Bicol Region.

There is no guarantee really that other power plants will not unexpectedly shut down or go offline for any kind of reason.

On water supply, I reiterate the dismal state of non-water revenue nationwide which stood at 29.34 percent as of December 2022. There are 244 water districts whose non-water revenue rates are 21 percent and above, while there are 20 water districts that have non-water revenue rates above 48 percent.

Underlying this water wastage is that many water pipes have leakage and are open to contamination from sewer water and other wastewater.

I would not be surprised if the diarrhea outbreak in Baguio City and other areas happened because of damaged water pipes. We await the conclusive findings of the agencies investigating the outbreak.

I congratulate Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong on his decisive leadership in response to the outbreak.

Water wastage also impacts low water pressure, especially for pipelines that go to elevated and remote areas. It takes high water pressure for water to reach elevated and remote areas, but busted pipes have low pressure.

- Rep. Bernadette “BH” Herrera

Bagong Henerasyon Party-list Deputy Minority Leader