MANILA — AGRI Party-list Representative Wilbert Lee has urged the Philippine legislature to pass a bill that would create a nationwide potable water system within three years, aiming to provide millions of Filipinos, particularly in rural areas, with access to clean and safe drinking water.
According to Philippines News Agency, House Bill 10531, also known as the 'Rural Potable Water Supply Act', is a response to data from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) indicating that around 40 million Filipinos currently lack access to clean water. Lee emphasized the urgency of addressing this basic human right, highlighting the potential risks to health and livelihood that contaminated or insufficient water supplies pose to the population.
The bill mandates the National Water Resources Board to lead the project, in coordination with the Department of Health, DENR, Department of Social Welfare and Development, and the Department of Public Works and Highways. It prioritizes areas severely affected by waterborne diseases and outlines guidelines for equitable distribution, local government participation, and the management of the new systems.
An initial budget of PHP 500 million is proposed for the commencement of the program, with further funding to be incorporated into the annual General Appropriations Act until completion. The initiative also aligns with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.'s directives to the DENR for improving water supply and advocating the proper use of rainwater as a resource.
Representative Lee called for a robust investment in meaningful infrastructure projects that ensure the provision of safe drinking water, which he argues is fundamental for maintaining public health and economic stability.