Senate committee to address water crisis in RP sought

Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri is proposing the creation of a congressional oversight committee that would look into the water crisis in the country and come up with solutions. Zubiri said the Senate should "hasten" the creation and convening of the committee so that it may come up with measures to resolve the lack of water supply in Metro Manila and other parts of the country. "Water is life. We need to get our acts together as soon as we can to prevent the problem from getting worse. We cannot afford any delays," he said in a statement on Wednesday. Zubiri likewise said there is a need to review whether previous administrations fully implemented Republic Act 8041 or the National Water Crisis Act of 1995 since the country was caught off guard when water supply recently took a dramatic drop. Under RA 8041, a joint executive-legislative water crisis commission was created to conduct consultations on the possibility of a water crisis and studies on the country's water supply and distribution system, and to recommend measures to address identified problems. "What happened to the commission's recommendations? What did the government do with it?" he said. The commission was supposed to be composed of the executive secretary as chairman, and the secretaries of the Department of Public Works and Highways and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, and the chairmen of the appropriate Senate and House committees as members. Under RA 8041, persons found to have prevented, obstructed, or interfered with the survey, works, and construction of water mains and distribution network, or any related utility entities shall be punished by imprisonment of six months to one year and a fine of not more than double the amount of the value of the water stolen or the value of the damaged facilities.—Kimberly Jane T. Tan/JV, GMANews.TV