MWSS chief calls for anti-terrorism program to secure country’s water supply

As the government started assessing the damage that was incurred during the Marawi siege — which has knocked down both the city's power and water supply — Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) now sees the need to draft an “anti-terrorism program” to secure the country's overall water supply.

To be exact, MWSS Administrator Reynaldo Velasco is now calling for enhanced anti-terrorism program to intensify the country's overall security measures to protect water facilities and sanitation, which is among the high-risk targets along with power, transportation, communication and ports.

"Thus, additional security measures are needed to prevent degradation of assets by the enemies of state, terrorist attacks or saboteurs," Velasco said.

"This goes with the territory and there is a constant need for Threat Assessment and Intelligence Build Up to negate the enemy plans," he added.

What's at stake, according to him, is the capacity of the government and the private sector to supply water to every household in the unfortunate case of a terrorist attack.

Aside from this, Velasco said the country's water resources are also threatened with wanton disregard for environmental conservation and protection.

According to the Philippine Development Plan, the Philippines has abundant water resources with 421 principal and 18 major river basins and renewable water totaling 479 billion cubic meters (bcm) from which water can be drawn for beneficial use.

"Deforestation has greatly affected our country’s watershed. You and I are aware that watersheds need trees in order to absorb rainwater which channels it into streams, rivers and eventually dams where human communities source fresh water," Velasco added as he enumerated the risks that the water sector is currently facing.

He said that the country is faced with the sad reality that our forest cover decreased by 328,682 hectares from 7,168,400 hectares in 2003 to 6,839,718 hectares in 2010. This represents an annual forest cover loss of 46,954 hectares.

At present, MWSS sources 95.6 percent of its total water supply from the Angat and Umiray Rivers and 4 percent from the Laguna Lake. The remaining supply, 0.4 percent, comes from groundwater sources.

Velasco's statement came a few days after President Rodrigo Duterte already declared the liberation of Marawi City five months after terrorists took over the area. To rehabilitate the city, the government initially earmarked an emergency fund worth at least R10 billion.