GORDON CALLS ON MANILA WATER TO SPEED UP UPGRADING WATER COLLECTION, DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM; SEARCH FOR NEW WATER SOURCES

Amid the water shortage that is affecting thousands of families in Metro Manila, Senator Richard J. Gordon turned forthright with east zone water concessionaire Manila Water and urged it to speed up upgrading its water collection and distribution system, as well as their search for other water sources.

"When will Manila Water finish its projects? They should immediately look for other water sources. Maynilad have other water sources. They should also speed up upgrading their water collection and distribution system, check their pipelines for leakages. If pipes are leaking, there would really be an increase in their consumers' demand, which is one of the reasons they cited," he said.

Gordon also called on Maynilad and other water tanker owners to lend water tankers to Manila Water to speed up the delivery of water to residents affected by the water interruption implemented by the east zone water concessionaire to ensure that their water supply can last until June since the water level in La Mesa Dam has dropped due to the effects of the El Nino phenomenon.

The water interruption is implemented in the cities of Mandaluyong, Pasig, San Juan, Taguig, and Marikina; the municipality of Pateros; parts of Makati, Manila, and Quezon City; and the towns of Angono, Baras, Binangonan, Cainta, Cardona, Jalajala, Morong, Pililia, Rodriguez, Tanay, Taytay, Teresa, San Mateo and Antipolo in the province of Rizal.

Gordon assured that the Philippine Red Cross will help provide clean and potable water to the thousands of families affected but hospitals must be prioritized to ensure that healthcare services will not be interrupted and to avoid health complications, such as sepsis, a type of blood infection.

He has deployed eight tankers to six hospitals namely the Rizal Medical Center, Quirino Memorial Medical Center, National Kidney and Transplant Institute, East Avenue Medical Center, National Center for Mental Health, and Mandaluyong City Medical Center.