ililJiitess rnsight

Tuesday, June25,2079

House looks i
HOUSE in the future.
lnto Metro (MWSS), National Water Resouyces-
House Resolution No. 2548 urged
the MWSS, MWSS-Regulatory Of6ce
watef shottage Bureau O.IWRB), L'WUA. National Ir_
ngauon Authoriry Q\ IA), Denartrnents
of$(ss-Ro) N'ifR3, LwuA, BSWM,
MWCI, and the MWSI to immediately
of Agriculnue, Budger and Ma;agemenr, formulate a water secutity master plan
BY WEI{DELL VICIIJA Enytonmenr and Natural Resouices and to secure and sustain the supply of
Public Works and Highways, NEDA water for household, commercial, and
THE House of Representatives, and warer concessionaires Manila Water industrial uses in Metro Maoila that
will cbnducr an oversight hearing Company. Inc. (]\4WCI), and Mavnilad may be duplicated in other parts of
today to look into the water short- Water Services. lnc. (ir,fwSl;. among the couqtry.
age in Metro Madla as Angat Dam . others. The resolugion stared that the recent
in Bulacan reaches ctitical level, Also included warer shortagi in Mecro Manila serves
Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Ar- as an "eye-opener"
royo made the call iust a few days in dre agenda is the proposed creation
of a Depattrnent of Watet which srill be that warned govern-
before the term of all members of ment regulators to be
the 18th Congtess eod onJune 30. evaluated by the commiftee for the next
Arroyo said the isiue was ' Congress to act upon.
proactive particulady
At the height of the water crisis in the in the dry season to
brought to her artention by Lo- avett watel selvice
cal !(ater U tilities Administrarion east side of Metro Manila lasr March, Ar '
royo also conducred an oversight hearing problems.
@WUA; acting adminisuaror Jeci MWSS Administra-
Lapus as he sought for solutions . that prompted Maynilad to agree to opeo
tor Reyna.ldo VeJasco
for the Angat watet problem as five of its surplus valves with Manila Wa-
ter to supply 50 milion of water to ease said the damt watet
well as long-term measures to avett
level v/ill continue to
water crisis. the burden of the estimared 1.2 million
a
households in the area. &op if there will be
Angat Dam, which supplies rto rain showers.
wirter to Metro Maniia and Central Two House resolunoos, both princi
PAGASA hy&olo-
Luzon, has already hit the critical pally authoted bv Speaker Arrovo. were : gist Elrner Cadngal said
160-meter level which could fur- also adopred rhat rackled the water cnsrs two strong qphoons
ther teduce Metto Manila's watet in Metro Manila. are needed so tbat Arr-
supply. House Resolurion No. 254? ruged rtre gat Darn's v/ate! lev€l
As of 6 a.m. yesterday, the water MWSS, together with orher conlerned would be restored to
level was down to 159.09 meters agencies and companies, ro be proactive its minimum operating
ftom
.L59.43 meters on Sunday' whenever an impending crisis is detected level of 180 meters,
mormng and immediately form a technical work- National Water Re-
Invited to today's hearing at ing group (fWG) to eflIance and execute soutces Board chief
the House of Representatives are mitigation st(ategies to avert the occu!- Sevillo David Jr. said
officials ftom the Metropolitan ' tence of watet shottage in Metro Manila Angat Dam may re-
Waterworks and Sevefage Systems and provide susrainable supplv of clean cord its lowest water
...'.'.'...'.'.'.'.'.'...'...'...' and sale water for its citizeos now and level this week if no
, See HOUSE> PageB2 rains will come. -
\\ =Fl7nt)f p\e€'/ With Uidol Btles