sffifaitare

wEDNEsDAy MAY 2g, zors [-

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House wants
masterplan
to avoid repeat
of watershortage
By MaricelV. Cruz
CONGRESSMEN are seeking ways
to avoid a repeat of the water shortage
in Metro Manila two months ago at the
urging of Speaker Gloria Macapagal
Arroyo.
This as the joint House committees
on govemment entefprises and
privatization and public works and
highways on Tuesday approved the
creation ofa technical working group
tasked to study shategies including the
creation ofa water security masterplan
to avert water shortages.
The joint panel approved Arroyo's
House Resolutions 2547 and 2548
that mandate the drafting of a water
security masterplan.
Marikina Rep. Bayani Femando,
chairrnan of tho pibhc works
committee and member of the other
panel, said the working group will
look into the issue of water shortage
from different perspectives and will
seek solution to the problem through
a long-term solution.
Femando said the legislators would
continue their efforts in the next
Congress since the current Congress
will adjourn sine die on June 8.
"The issue is already being tackled
in accordance with a resolution. This
is needed to coordinate all the moves
and share the experiences of various
government agencies involved in
water supply," Femando said in an
inierview after the hearing.
"We have known this problem
for 20 years, the problem is why
did we fail to resolve it in time?"
he added.
Jeric Sevilla, head of the
communications group of the Manila
Water, told legislators that the Ayala
owned. company continues exerting
efforts 'to arrest the effects of the
supply deficit."
Sevilla said the company supports
the creation of the TWG and said
remediation efforts done by the
company has resulted in better supply
in its franchise grea.
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