Senators press DHSUD: Solve water woes at Bulacan housing site

Senators on Wednesday urged the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) to move faster in addressing the ongoing water shortage at a government housing project in San Jose del Monte City, Bulacan.

During the Senate plenary debates on DHSUD’s proposed P6.4-billion budget for 2026, Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, who was sponsoring the agency's funding, pressed DHSUD Secretary Jose Ramon Aliling to expedite the rehabilitation of the water system at the HDH Alpas housing site.

“Hindi ako satisfied sa 90 to 120 days. So walang tubig? Kayo kaya ‘wag maligo ng 90 to 120 days?” Gatchalian told Aliling.

(I’m not satisfied with the 90 to 120 days. So there will be no water during that period? What if you yourselves don’t take a shower for 90 to 120 days?)

HDH ALPAS, which stands for High Density Housing – Aniban Para sa Lehitimong Paninirahan Ligtas sa Sakuna, is a social housing project under the Social Housing Finance Corporation (SHFC) located in Barangay Muzon.

Gatchalian’s remarks came after Senator Risa Hontiveros raised the water crisis affecting residents of the Alpas community. Hontiveros asked DHSUD what steps it had taken to expedite the restoration of water connections in the area.

In response, Aliling said the agency has begun constructing a deep well at the housing site, but the facility would need 90 to 120 days before it becomes operational.

Gatchalian, however, was not convinced and demanded more urgent action from the agency.

“Dapat bukas may tubig na ito. Dapat kung habang walang tubig sila, ‘wag rin kayo maligo kaya,” he said.
(There should already be water there tomorrow. If the residents don’t have water, then you shouldn’t bathe either.)

DHSUD officials said its interim solution could take up to four months to complete. It added that the government will provide water rationing while the deep well is under construction.

Gatchalian also noted that the local government has been coordinating with PrimeWater Infrastructure Corp. to address the supply problem.

According to him, the second phase of the interim plan involves ensuring that the deep well complies with all regulatory requirements.

“It has to be a legal deep well, not a ‘colorum’ one. The application has already been filed with the DENR,” he said, adding that he and Hontiveros have asked the agency to expedite the necessary approvals.

“The community cannot be without water,” Gatchalian said.—MCG, GMA Integrated News