Senator Juan Ponce Enrile on Thursday said the Aquino government should consider putting up desalination facilities as a long-term solution to Metro Manila’s water problem.

He said it would be better for the government to invest in desalination facilities to address water scarcity in the future.

These facilities, he said, can be used to treat water supply from potential but challenging water resources such as Laguna Lake.

Desalination refers to the several processes that remove excess salt and other minerals from water.

“On a long-term basis, I think it is worthwhile (for the government) to put up a desalination plant as a standby for Metro Manila and or better still for us to treat the water of Laguna Lake to supply the (water) requirement of Metro Manila,” Enrile said at weekly press conference at the Senate.

To address the present crisis experienced by Metro Manila residents, Enrile suggested that the government exhaust all efforts to get all available water supplies.

“On a short term basis, I doubt whether we can do much. I would suggest that the government get all its available water transport facilities to go out and secure water from outlying areas within two kilometers outside of Metro Manila and serve the poor people that cannot have water,” Enrile said.

Enrile added this is more feasible than using the facilities of Maynilad and Manila Water, the water concessionaires serving Metro Manila, which depend upon the availability of enough supply from Angat Dam and La Mesa Dam.

“We have to accept the fact that the climate condition of the planet has been affected. In fact, it is going to be the subject of my next discussion this afternoon. And I’m proposing an alternative position, solution, and approach to the problem,” Enrile said.