00:00 It's still early, but residents are already lining up to get water.
00:05 That's what the usual scene is like when it's March
00:08 in this small town of Luok in Occidental, Mindoro.
00:12 Seven out of ten barangays and sites there are still short of water supply.
00:18 They only have one deep well, which is not enough if it's hot.
00:23 Especially in Barangay Tabao and Barangay Balikyas, when it's summer, we really don't have water.
00:30 Of course, I'm scared because if there's a shortage of water, my fellow countrymen might get sick.
00:41 Among the 11,000 population of Luok, 40 million Filipinos still don't have formal access to water supply.
00:50 Their situation is likely to get worse due to the El Niño eruption.
00:55 The El Niño impact both impacts the volume of water that our wells are drying up and also the quality.
01:04 We see a surge in contamination when our water supply is small.
01:10 According to the Environment Department, 250 billion pesos is needed
01:15 to supply the needs of 40 million affected Filipinos,
01:20 as well as the related operations within five years.
01:24 The Local Water Utilities Administration admitted that it only has 500 water districts nationwide,
01:32 which is a share of the support.
01:35 To date, several are already approaching them.
01:39 The Interior Department urged the local governments to also consult the DENR.
01:46 They are proactive in ensuring that they have more sources of water.
01:51 We are helping on how we can address the proper support.
01:55 Number one, what they are encouraging is that the water source should not be deep well.
02:00 Don't use a deep well because our water is running out.
02:05 Our priority is to have a water source so that it will be better.
02:09 According to DENR Secretary Tony Yulo Loizaga,
02:13 they have already distributed possible alternative water sources for the needs.
02:19 They also have calamity funds that can be used by LGUs and the land bank also has a loan program.
02:26 The water resources have been mapped nationally already.
02:30 So the important thing is to locate where they are and where is the most efficient and proper water source.
02:38 Metro Manila has sufficient water supply until the second quarter,
02:43 even though the preparations are still in full force.
02:46 Kary K. Tor, CNN Philippines.
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