Palace positive on Congress support for Department of Water proposal
Published Apr 9, 2019 05:20 pm
By Genalyn Kabiling
Malacañang is optimistic that Congress will support the administration proposal to establish a new department that will consolidate government efforts on water management and security.
Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles (SCREENSHOT / RTVM / FACEBOOK / MANILA BULLETIN)
Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles said the proposed creation of the Department of Water will be submitted to the Legislative Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC) for discussions on the common legislative agenda.
"We hope we will have allies in both Houses of Congress so our proposed Department of Water and all other remaining priority legislations will be passed," he said in an interview with reporters at the Palace Monday night.
"With the Department of Water, you have to pass through Congress so ideally it has to be institutionalized and that is through a law," he added.
Nograles cited the importance of the passage of the law creating the water department since the proposed executive order on water resource management might be scrapped by the next administration.
"I think we need to include it (in the LEDAC) because of the fragmented approach that we have," he said.
"The problem is if we are doing something good and the next administration will come in they will just over rule or cancel the EO then well go back to our old ways which is not acceptable," he added.
Socio economic planning secretary Ernesto Pernia earlier suggested the creation of a single department to regulate government agencies and private water entities to prevent a repeat of the water shortage in Metro Manila.
The proposed creation of the Department of Water was recently discussed in the Cabinet meeting convened by the President in Malacanang.
Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said they discussed on the roadmap on mitigating the effects of El Niño and water shortage.
"A roadmap was presented, which included immediate, medium and long-term interventions, such as making an intensive campaign for the conservation of water and energy, creating a Department of Water and a Department of Disaster Resilience," he said.
Panelo said the roadmap also involves "dredging of waterways, replacing tunnels and aqueducts, installing water tank systems in all Department of Health hospitals and providing funding for the establishment of water treatment plants.”
Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles (SCREENSHOT / RTVM / FACEBOOK / MANILA BULLETIN)
Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles said the proposed creation of the Department of Water will be submitted to the Legislative Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC) for discussions on the common legislative agenda.
"We hope we will have allies in both Houses of Congress so our proposed Department of Water and all other remaining priority legislations will be passed," he said in an interview with reporters at the Palace Monday night.
"With the Department of Water, you have to pass through Congress so ideally it has to be institutionalized and that is through a law," he added.
Nograles cited the importance of the passage of the law creating the water department since the proposed executive order on water resource management might be scrapped by the next administration.
"I think we need to include it (in the LEDAC) because of the fragmented approach that we have," he said.
"The problem is if we are doing something good and the next administration will come in they will just over rule or cancel the EO then well go back to our old ways which is not acceptable," he added.
Socio economic planning secretary Ernesto Pernia earlier suggested the creation of a single department to regulate government agencies and private water entities to prevent a repeat of the water shortage in Metro Manila.
The proposed creation of the Department of Water was recently discussed in the Cabinet meeting convened by the President in Malacanang.
Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said they discussed on the roadmap on mitigating the effects of El Niño and water shortage.
"A roadmap was presented, which included immediate, medium and long-term interventions, such as making an intensive campaign for the conservation of water and energy, creating a Department of Water and a Department of Disaster Resilience," he said.
Panelo said the roadmap also involves "dredging of waterways, replacing tunnels and aqueducts, installing water tank systems in all Department of Health hospitals and providing funding for the establishment of water treatment plants.”