By Liza Soriano
MANILA — AGRI Party-list Rep. Wilbert Lee expressed his appreciation for the successful passage of the bill creating the Department of Water on its third and final reading.
“We are delighted that we are one step closer to our goal of establishing a dedicated department that will champion universal access to safe, adequate, affordable, and sustainable water,” said Lee, a principal author of the bill.
“We extend our gratitude to our colleagues in the House for swiftly approving this legislation. We all emerge as winners when we focus on and address the water supply issues in our country.”
Lee emphasized the critical need for an effective and sustainable water resources management program, enabling the nation to confront the challenges of climate change and ensure a reliable water supply.
“This proposed legislation is among our initiatives as a long-term solution to address the alarming effects of El Niño. Crops and livestock require water to thrive and grow robustly, making the stability of the agricultural sector dependent on an ample water supply,” Lee pointed out.
According to the United Nations, nearly 70 percent of all freshwater appropriated for human use is consumed by irrigation.
(ai/mnm)