Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla is considering an additional P1 billion for water tankers and other delivery equipment to help Cebu communities prepare for possible water shortages during the anticipated El Niño.
Remulla said the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) was preparing to procure additional tanker trucks, with deliveries targeted by January, depending on equipment availability.
“Cebu will be hit hard. Kaya ngayon pa lang nag emergency purchase kami ng tanker trucks,” Remulla said in an ambush interview during his visit to Cebu on Thursday, Oct. 15.
The proposed funding would come from the Office of the President and support the purchase of additional tankers for areas likely to experience water supply difficulties.
“As far as the DILG goes, I think we’ll put another P1 billion into buying new tanker trucks,” he said.
Remulla said the department was already preparing the procurement process to determine which units were available for purchase.
“We’re preparing the procurement now, so kung ano man ‘yung available na,” he said.
Aside from tanker trucks, the DILG is considering desalination boats that could provide an alternative source of water for island communities and other areas where freshwater is difficult to obtain.
Remulla did not specify how many tanker trucks or desalination boats the department could acquire for Cebu or how the proposed funding would be divided between the equipment.
He also directed local chief executives to identify existing water sources in their respective areas to help authorities determine which communities would need assistance most.
The inventory would guide preparations for water distribution, particularly in island municipalities and communities vulnerable to shortages.
Remulla also encouraged local governments to secure water containers, including drums, so households could store water delivered by tanker trucks.
While acknowledging that transporting water would entail additional expenses for local governments, he said ensuring public access to water should remain the priority.
“It will cost more for the local governments, but para sa tao ‘to eh. It should help the people. And there is no politics in this,” Remulla said.
“It doesn’t matter who you are or what party you are affiliated with. We have to help the people, walang iwanan,” he added.
To strengthen emergency response, Remulla said he had also requested additional water tankers from the fire service in anticipation of increased demand for water deliveries during a crisis.
He cited Cebu’s limestone terrain as another challenge in securing water resources in parts of the province.
“Dito sa Cebu, nahihirapan talaga dahil ang tubig dito ay isa sa pinakamahirap kukunin dahil limestone na ang kinakali ng Cebu,” Remulla said.
The proposed measures are intended to help local governments prepare for possible supply disruptions as authorities assess available water sources and plan emergency distribution ahead of the anticipated El Niño.
Photo courtesy of Capitol PIO
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