The Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA) said on Tuesday, March 22, that it has restored approximately 85 percent of the water supply system in all areas affected by Typhoon "Odette" last year.
LWUA officer-in-charge (OIC) Eileen Dela Vega said they have been doing well in completing their goal despite the challenges brought by the Covid-19 pandemic.
“Mga 82 to 85 fully restored na yung water services dun sa nasalanta ng Typhoon Odette. Meron pang konti na partially restored, so hopefully very soon makabalik na rin yung 100 percent na service sa kanilang komyunidad (We were able to restore 82 to 85 percent of water services in areas affected by Odette. Some areas are partially restored as well, hopefully we’ll be able to restore all affected water districts soon),” Dela Vega said over Laging Handa briefing.
In an earlier statement, LWUA disclosed that about 181 water districts nationwide were damaged after the typhoon devastated areas within Visayas and Mindanao region. Out of the 181, nine water districts are in Mimaropa; 67 in Region 6; 24 in Region 7; 30 in Region 8; 25 in Caraga; and 26 in Region 10.
To help the affected areas, LWUA said it purchased water treatment facilities installed in the cities of Davao, Cagayan de Oro, Tacloban, San Fernando (Pampanga), and La Union.
On the other hand, water districts from Metro Cebu, Toledo, Carcar, Balamban, Roxas, Puerto Princesa, Sogod, and Leyte extended their assistance to the "Odette"-affected areas.
To date, Dela Vega said that the water district located in Dinagat Islands is among the few water supply system that need to be restored.
In the case of possible water shortage this summer season, the LWUA OIC said that the National Water Resources Board (NWRB) already implemented measures to increase the water supply in the country.
Meanwhile, LWUA, the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) will aid NWRB through non-revenue water reduction programs.