Water purifiers should be immediately dispatched to communities inundated by Tropical Storm Kristine, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. said on Wednesday.
The President made the call during the briefing at the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) Headquarters in Camp Emilio Aguinaldo, Quezon City.
President Marcos particularly wanted water purifiers from the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) to be distributed in flooded communities of Bicol, the region most hit by heavy rains brought by Kristine.
“You coordinate with them (MMDA) because again, we are going to run into that situation where water supply is critical. Baka magkasakit sila … mga tao sa water supply,” the President told gov’t officials during the briefing.
The President brought up the previous disaster response of the government during Super Typhoon Yolanda in 2013, in which water filtration system good for 100 people per day was deployed.
Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian said they are deploying water filtration system per evacuation center, depending on the number of evacuees.
“So, they cluster, let’s say three rooms, depending on how many are inside a room. Iyong the one I showed you was parang a hundred… Same, same na same, sir,” Gatchalian told the President.
The MMDA’s water filtration system is a 6,000-liter per day machine. The government also procured 34 similar machines for deployment to areas needing such equipment.
The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) reported massive and unprecedented flooding in Bicol and other regions, emphasizing the need for close monitoring of those areas due to damages in agriculture and livelihood.
In terms of immediate response, the OCD sought for more rubber boats and water search-and-rescue equipment for logistics and evacuation in flooded areas. | PND
