Amid spike in cholera cases

ALBAY 2nd District Representative Joey Sarte Salceda on Monday said the House is committed to increasing access to clean water and sanitation facilities through more water systems projects amid ongoing cases of cholera in certain regions of the country.

“We are committed to increasing funds for water and sanitation facilities. Right now, the 2023 budget has about P5.28 billion dedicated to water systems under the DPWH budget. We will do more,” Salceda, chairman of the House Committee on Ways and Means, said.

Salceda said, “the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) considers the recommendations of members of Congress in funding programs from the Allocations to Local Government Units or ALGUs item. That’s P63 billion this year, and we will recommend that more water systems be funded.”

Data from the Department of Health (DOH) indicated an upsurge in cholera cases in the country, from 976 cases recorded in January to October last year to 3,729 during the same period in 2022. Most of the cases were from Eastern Visayas, Davao region, and Caraga.

Likewise, Central Luzon, Western Visayas, and Eastern Visayas have surpassed the epidemic threshold levels for cholera over the same period.

“Cholera cases are at an upsurge globally, in part due to floods caused by a changing climate. So, we are no exception. But cholera is totally avoidable – largely with clean water and proper sewage systems,” he said.

“We are committed to funding more of that during the budget process,” Salceda said.

Salceda added that water supply systems could also be funded with disaster risk reduction and management funds.

“There is an empirical link between flooding and cholera cases. The water supply can get adulterated by flooding,” he said.

“Water supply also tends to be quite difficult in disaster-affected areas. Certainly, access to clean water is also a disaster management measure, especially in evacuation centers,” he added.

“So, I would argue that a large chunk of the P31-billion NDRRM (National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council) Fund in the 2023 budget should go towards water systems in evacuation centers and relocation sites. These systems can also be used year-round by the communities around them,” he said.

“We will target having P20 billion spent for water systems from the national government’s share of the 2023 budget. From the DPWH, ALGUs, NDRRMF, and other allocations. That includes possibly increasing the P5.28 billion allocation in the DPWH for water systems. This is an unfolding national crisis, and the budget needs to be responsive,” Salceda said.

Salceda said his panel will also work with the House Committee on Appropriations to see whether “measures passed under my leadership of the committee can help fund more water facilities.”

“Among the items, I’m looking at is the 20% earmarked revenues for sustainable development goals from the POGO [Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator] Tax Law, and the same item from the alcohol excise tax law and from vape taxes. Clean water and sanitation, after all, is goal number 6 of the SDGs,” Salceda said.