Risa Hontiveros pushed for a super El Niño-ready 2027 national budget during a DZBB radio interview on Sunday, calling on government agencies and local government units to protect the public from heat and water shortages.
The push comes as the Department of Health advised the public not to rely solely on water filters for safe drinking water, according to The Philippine Star. Health Assistant Secretary Tagumpay Maniquis stated that raw water with debris requires pretreatment to prevent clogging in filters with 0.1-micron capacity.
As vice chairman of the Senate budget panel overseeing the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and the Department of Social Welfare and Development, Hontiveros backed funding for water conservation and environmental programs. She specifically cited the DENR’s Lawa at Binhi initiatives for stronger support.
To deactivate viruses or bacteria smaller than 0.1 micron, Maniquis advised boiling water or using chlorine tablets, adding that devices must be registered with the Food and Drug Administration. Meanwhile, Education Secretary Sonny Angara directed schools to plant drought-tolerant crops such as munggo, okra, malunggay, saluyot, alugbati, and kamote to protect the government feeding program from prolonged dry spells, as reported by The Philippine Star.
Did You Know? The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration declared the onset of the amihan season on October 27, bringing cooler northeasterly winds to Extreme Northern Luzon as El Niño conditions persist.
Hontiveros stressed the importance of a whole-of-government approach and noted that officials have discussed creating a Super El Niño task force. She vowed to participate in Department of Health budget deliberations to protect Universal Health Care implementation during the climate phenomenon.
Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian committed to budget reforms by removing over P7 billion in unjustified items from the proposed budget to increase transparency through civil society involvement. Hontiveros said the Senate will examine the big picture to shape a responsive budget within parliamentary rules.
“We have to make sure that our farmers really have a source of water,” Hontiveros said regarding coordination between the DENR and the Department of Agriculture.
The DOH recommends pretreating raw water containing debris to prevent filter clogging, and using boiling or chlorine tablets to deactivate viruses or bacteria smaller than 0.1 micron.
Education Secretary Sonny Angara recommended planting drought-resistant crops such as munggo, okra, malunggay, saluyot, alugbati, and kamote to sustain feeding programs.
How will local authorities in your community balance agricultural irrigation needs with household water security during the upcoming dry spell?
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