By Hannah Torregoza Reelectionist Senator Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito on Wednesday urged the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) to ensure that all hospitals have a steady water supply as the country experiences a limited supply of this basic commodity this dry season. Senator JV Ejercito (Tony Pionilla / MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO)   Ejercito, chair of the Senate committee on health and demography, said the BFP should give extra attention to hospitals for water ration. “Hospitals and medical facilities can’t afford to run out of water because the lives of the patients would be put in extreme danger,” Ejercito said. “That’s why I am calling on the BFP to ensure steady water supply in these facilities kasi kailangang-kailangan ang tubig para sa mga pasyente, (because they urgently need water for the patients),” he said. The senator also prodded the BFP to closely coordinate with city and municipal governments and monitor the situation in hospitals. “There should be fire trucks on standby for hospitals,” said Ejercito. “I am also calling for strong cooperation between the BFP and local government units and jointly implement measures that would ensure that hospitals and medical facilities located in areas affected by water shortage would have enough water supply,” he added. Some parts in Metro Manila and Rizal province have experienced forced rationing due to the limited and diminishing supply of water. Earlier, some senators back a congressional inquiry into the water crisis following the conflicting statements being issued by two water concessionaires—Maynilad and Manila Water—on the sufficiency of water supply. Manila Water, which covers the east zone of Metro Manila and Rizal province, has advised its customers to expect more water interruptions in the following days due to limited water supply as El Niño begins to set in the country, but its counterpart, Maynilad, which covers the west zone, counterpart has claimed they have sufficient supply.