Water recycling law necessary – Tolentino
Environmental lawyer and senatoriable Atty. Francis Tolentino said a water recycling law is needed as a long-term solution in addressing the nation’s water crisis.
He made the statement amid the lack of water supply in many parts of the country due to El Niño.
Tolentino said water recycling is an immediate solution to the crisis.
“May mga kompanya na sa bansa na may mga pasilidad para sa water recycling. Subalit marami pa rin ang wala. Kung kaya nga dapat na maisa batas ang pagkakaroon ng mga malalaking establisimentong mga
kagamitan at pasilidad para sa water recycling,” says Tolentino. (There are companies that now practice water recycling but there are still many who don’t. We need to have a law that will make it mandatory for big establishments to have water recycling facilities.)
“Malaki ang pangangailangan ngmga higanteng malls at hotels halimbawa para sa tubig. Ang pagkakaroon ng water treatment at recycling facility para sa mga negosyong mataas ang demand para sa tubig ay makatutulong upang makabawas sa bigat ng demand upang madala ang ibang suplay sa mga komunidad at kabahayan.” (Big malls and hotels have huge demands for water. If they have water recycling facilities, this will lessen the load on water concessionaires and make them focus their supply on communities and residential areas.)
Tolentino added that the government should also grant incentives to enterprises that will install water recycling facility in their establishments. Through this, businesses will be encouraged to invest in the said facility.
“Tax discounts ang insentibong naiisip ko. Subalit marami pang mga insentibo ang maaring mailaan ng pamahalaan. Sa mga kompanya naman, maari ding maging bahagi ng kanilang corporate responsibility policy angpagtatatag ng water recycling system bilang tulong nila sa pagsagip at pagpapanatili sa kalikasan ng bansa.”( I am thinking of proposing tax discounts for incentives. The government can offer more incentives. Companies can even consider making it part of their corporate responsibility policy the institution of a water recycling system as a way of helping conserve our resources.)