Tolentino appeals for help for 455 towns without access to drinking water

Senator Francis Tolentino on Tuesday urged the government to push for the immediate creation of a potable water supply system for municipalities which still have no access to clean drinking water.

During the hearing on potable water supply system in every barangay, the senator said he had received a report that 455 municipalities in the country are still "waterless."

According to last year’s report of the Department of the Interior and Local Government's Salintubig Program, a municipality is considered "waterless" when less than 50 percent of its total population do not have access to clean drinking water.

“Dito sa hawak kong record lumalabas na 455 municipalities are still waterless? Bakit po ganon? Hindi ba dapat tutukan na natin iyan at madaliin kasi kawawa naman ang mga kababayan natin,” said Tolentino, who chairs the committee on local government.

DILG Salintubig Program Project Manager Relly Leysa said based on their records, only 60 towns remain waterless. Tolentino's record, however, indicated over 9 million Filipino households are still suffering from zero water supply.

“How was that possible? You mean to say the 9 million household fits the 60 waterless municipalities that you are talking about? Medyo malabo ata yun,” Tolentino said.

He urged the concerned agencies to back up their plans with actions to respond to the water needs of the people.

“Hindi sapat na puro plano lang, umaksyon tayo. Madaliin natin ito,” he said. — MDM, GMA News