RIZAL 4th District Rep. Fidel Nograles hailed President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr.’s recent order to concerned government agencies to complete all water-related projects by April 2024 amid an impending drought due to the El Niño phenomenon.
“The President’s order signifies the government’s commitment to protect our people from the harsh effects of the coming drought. I hope that our agencies tasked with overseeing these projects will not only comply, but seek to exceed expectations,” Nograles said.
The country could face potentially the worst drought it has experienced in decades after only 10 typhoons – from an annual average of 20 – entered the Philippines so far this year, the government announced recently.
With the ongoing El Niño phenomenon, the Philippines is also likely to experience “moderate to severe drought conditions” from February to May 2024, with 77 percent of the country’s provinces expected to be in drought by the end of May, the Department of Science and Technology said.
Nograles underscored the need to act swiftly to mitigate the effects of the expected drought.
“Time is of the essence, and every moment of inaction will lead to more families being affected by the drought,” the lawmaker said.
Nograles also lauded the recent passage of House Bill No. 9663, or the National Water Resources Act, which seeks to create a Department of Water.
He said that a strategic framework for national water management, policymaking, and planning is crucial to ensure Filipinos’ access to the crucial resource amid the climate crisis.
“Now more than ever, we need a united body instead of various fragmented units to manage our water resources. The passage of the National Water Resources Act is instrumental towards achieving that aim and protecting this invaluable resource,” said Nograles.
