Speaker vows to help LWUA on water system loss

MANILA, Philippines — Speaker Martin Romualdez yesterday committed to help the Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA) on its problem on water system loss – feared to have a huge impact on the Marcos administration’s water conservation efforts – hoping this would result in affordable water and food security once solved.

The assurance came after LWUA Chairman Ronnie Ong met with Romualdez last week to seek his help on “reducing, if not totally eliminating, the almost 30 percent annual water system loss of the Water Districts under the agency’s jurisdiction.”

Ong revealed that the annual water loss is around 488 million cubic meters – a quantity surpassing half the capacity of Angat Dam, which is the water lifeline for Metro Manila and nearby provinces.

Romualdez s aid he was startled by the figure, but remains optimistic that the problem could be solved through the rehabilitation of water supply systems and capacity-building.

“The solution to these water service interruptions could be right under our noses. Patching up this water systems losses means more water for all at a time when El Niño remains a very serious threat to our daily convenience and food production,” he noted.

The Speaker had instructed the chamber to determine how to help LWUA deal with the matter.

He said the ongoing deliberations on the House committee on appropriations on the proposed P5.768-billion national budget for 2024 is a “perfect opportunity to explore solutions.”

Congressmen, he added, would have to closely work with LWUA and address the wastage of water in their respective water districts.

Ong informed Romualdez that the water districts, which serve areas outside Metro Manila, yield an average non-revenue water rate of 29.34 percent.