Press Release
June 16, 2008

REVILLA AIMS FOR POTABLE WATER NATIONWIDE

In a bid to provide safe potable water in every household throughout the country, Senator Bong Revilla pushes to intensify the development of the waterworks system in the Philippines , particularly in the remote villages in the provinces.

The senator noted the report by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the global development network of the United Nations, that says more than ten million Filipinos have no access to safe drinking water, while more than 21 million lack basic sanitation.

"Millions of Filipinos still lack adequate access to water, especially to clean drinking water, despite the fact that Philippines is a water-rich country," Revilla lamented.

He stressed that long-term benefits can be derived by a community in the provinces from having a water district, particularly on the aspect of health and sanitation.

Revilla pointed out that water users are provided a first line of defense against water-borne diseases such as amoebiasis and typhoid fever since only disinfected and potable water is made available to every concessioner's home.

"Residents from far flung villages in the rural areas would no longer face the risk of fetching and using water from community wells and springs that may be unsafe. This will improve their standard of living," said Revilla, chairman of the Senate Committee on Public Works.

Based on the UNDP report, most of those who have inadequate access to water and lack basic sanitation are slum dwellers and the poor who live in rural areas. Water quantity and quality are critical in highly populated areas such as Metro Manila, Central Luzon, Southern Tagalog, and Central Visayas .

To achieve a nationwide zero backlog on water, Revilla filed Senate Bill No. 737 to increase the authorized capital stock and borrowing power of the Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA).

The LWUA, established by virtue of Presidential Decree No. 198, is a specialized lending institution mandated by law to promote and oversee the development of provincial waterworks systems in the country.

"LWUA would ensure that the average water user in the provinces can afford water by setting water rates through a socialized pricing scheme. Big water users such as industries and commercial establishments are charged higher rates which, in effect, subsidize the smaller but more numerous domestic water users," Revilla added.

A committee report on SB737 and other similar bills has been filed by Revilla's committee and is already for second reading.

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