WITH the onslaught of a global pandemic, where personal hygiene is as important as any health protocol to combat the deadly virus, the need for clean and accessible water has become more pronounced, especially in rural areas, according to Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA), administrator Guiling “Gene” A. Mamondiong in a recent online forum in celebration of Global Handwashing Day.

Hand washing, according to Mamondiong, is a key preventive measure against COVID-19. He went on to say that people should be aware of the need for handwashing on a regular basis, and that a campaign including local government units would be necessary to disseminate this information.

”However, if there is no water, how can you accomplish this?” the LWUA leader said, referring to a scenario that many Filipinos face in the countryside.

He said this is the reason why he is pushing for the completion of the formation of water districts across the country.

“By 2030, we hope to have established water districts in all municipalities, cities and provinces outside Metro Manila,” he said, referring to some 1,500 towns and about 130 cities outside the national capital.

“Then after that, we will be targetting the 42,000 barangays in the country especially the rural barangays,” he said. “We are conceptualizing the establishment of a rural barangay water systems.

We are hoping to have this before the end of the year.”

According to Mamondiong, LWUA needs the help of the national government since such an expansive coverage would need ₱15 billion in funding, which the agency lacks because it relies mostly on revenues from loan amortizations of local water districts.

He also calls on the private sector proposing that the latter helps the country’s unserved or underserved areas particularly those in need of financial and technical assistance.

Meanwhile, Mamondiong noted that water supply had become critical because of the depletion of ground water.

“I was suggesting to NEDA the harvesting of rainwater, tapping of spring water.” he explained.

He also propose the creation of LWUA sub-offices especially in the south and far-flung areas where the problem of lack of water had become acute, he added.

“They cannot even drink water three times a day. They have to travel to far places to get water from deep wells.” According to Mamondiong, this is what he has seen in places like Caraga, Cordillera, Bicol and others.

Apart from that, he claimed he would also propose a socialized water tariff to help the poor in rural region, all in an effort to provide clean, accessible and affordable water to every Filipino.