FOR the sake of long-suffering Marawi City residents, Sen. Robinhood “Robin” C. Padilla has asked, even demanded from the Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA) early Wednesday for its “word of honor” to finally ensure a stable water supply in the city by next year.

While Padilla did not raise questions about the LWUA’s 2023 budget, he reminded the agency of the need to ensure water supply for residents of Marawi – which was attacked by extremists in 2017 – as a key step towards peace.

“Hinihingi ko na lang po ang inyong word of honor na next year, may tubig na po. Insha Allah,” Padilla, told the LWUA during the Senate’s deliberations on the agency’s budget after midnight Wednesday.

“Kung gusto po natin talaga na makamit ang kapayapaan, tubig lang po,” he added.

The LWUA noted that it had made progress in the design and construction of the water treatment plant, reservoirs, and pipeline; and site development work for water intake. It added the Philippine Army has approved its revised site development plan for a water treatment plant and reservoirs inside the Army camp and is waiting for the Army’s approval of a draft memorandum of agreement.

Last October, Padilla angrily pointed out to the LWUA that Marawi residents continue to suffer from a lack of water more than five years after the Marawi Siege, despite the billions of pesos provided by the government.

He shared the observation of Sen. Ronald dela Rosa that extremists may exploit the situation and anger the residents to pave the way for a “Marawi Siege Part 2.”

Sen. Mark Villar assured Padilla that the LWUA is “committed” to ensuring water for Marawi, adding the LWUA will provide updates on its accomplishments in Marawi City.

Meanwhile, Padilla called on the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to ensure decent roads in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) to guarantee progress for the region, saying good transportation will be good for the region’s economy.

Earlier Tuesday, Padilla took part in the first Philippine Congress-Bangsamoro Parliament Forum, where proposed legislative measures were tackled to enable the Bangsamoro Government to ensure enough funding and proper use of such funds.

Padilla noted that while roads in Sultan Kudarat are good, they are very bad in Maguindanao. He said he has approached and sought help from Senators Alan Peter Cayetano and Bong Revilla, and from DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan, on the matter.

“Pagka nagpunta kayo sa lugar namin sa BARMM, ‘pag galing po kayo ng Sultan Kudarat, napakaganda po ng kalsada diyan. Talagang napakasarap po, ‘pag bumiyahe kayo riyan ang sarap po ng tulog ninyo. Pero pagpasok po ninyo sa lugar namin alam niyo nang nandoon na kayo sa Maguindanao sapagka’t nagkakapalit na kayo ng mukha ng katabi ninyo. Yun po kasing kalsada ay napakasama. Nakakalungkot po,” Padilla said.

“Ang hiling ko po sana, kung talaga pong tayo ay susunod sa mga sinabi ng ating mahal na Pangulong Bongbong Marcos, ay pagtutulungan po natin. Pagtutulungan po natin na maayos ang kalsada sapagka’t ang kalsadang ayos, ibig sabihin maganda ang transportation. Kapag maganda ang transportation, ibig sabihin, magiging totoo lahat ng mga sinabi nating economic promises.

Kaya mahal na chairman at atin pong ginoong pangulo, hinihingi ko po sa ating DPWH na tulungan po ako, tulungan po akong maayos natin ang kalsada sa BARMM. At unahin po natin sana ang pagdugtong ng Sultan Kudarat pagpasok ng Maguindanao papunta ng Lanao sana maayos po natin, Insha Allah,” he added.

For his part, Sen. Sonny Angara assured Padilla that the DPWH will help in this regard, as Bonoan has given his word.