NDRRMC, Hungarian firm ink pact for mobile water treatment unit during disasters

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) and the Hungarian Water Technology Corporation Inc. on Wednesday signed a memorandum of agreement which will allow the delivery of a mobile water treatment compact unit that may help supply clean water during calamities in the Philippines.

The MOA signing was attended by NDRRMC executive director Ricardo Jalad and Ambassador Josef Bencze of the Embassy of Hungary to the Philippines.

Photo by Anna Felicia Bajo

According to Jalad, clean water is very important whenever authorities are responding to natural disasters.

"Definitely, water is always a concern... water, including sanitation and health, is one of the clusters that we establish whenever we respond in particular disasters," Jalad said.

"We have seen that situation in Cotabato after the earthquake... while we have technologies available, we need more of this kind which the Hungarian Water Technology Corporation can provide to us, especially the kind that can process sea water to potable water," Jalad added.

Meanwhile, Adrian Kiss, the chief executive officer of the Hungarian firm, underscored that some areas in the Philippines are commonly hit by natural disasters.

Kiss is hoping that the Hungarian equipment, which is worth P10 million, would provide assistance to Filipinos and supply them drinking water during calamities.

"Hopefully our technology can help local communities who have to be displaced from the disaster area... water is life, water is the most important commodity that we have to have in a daily basis," Kiss said.

Kiss said the equipment would be shipped from Hungary to the Philippines in February 2020, adding that the inauguration could be in April next year. — RSJ, GMA News