Robin to LWUA: Marawi residents can't wait any longer for water projects
While it has been given a humongous budget, why is it that the Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA) still cannot implement much-needed water projects for Marawi City residents?
Senator Robinhood "Robin" Padilla angrily directed this question at LWUA officials on Wednesday, Oct. 19, as he noted that it has been more than five years since the 2017 Marawi siege occurred.
"Alam ng tao sa Marawi na nagbigay ng budget ng gobyerno, bilyon ang budget na binigay ng gobyerno, hindi natin maintindihan bakit hindi ma-implement (The people of Marawi know that the government has given more than P1 billion as budget for the water projects). Ang hirap-hirap ipaliwanag sa kababayan natin, naroon ang pera, bakit hindi magawa (We cannot understand why they are not yet implemented. It is hard to explain to our people why we cannot implement something when we already have the budget for it)," Padilla asked during the hearing on the proposed 2023 budget of the LWUA.
He also agreed with the observation of Senator Ronald dela Rosa that some "extremist" groups might exploit the situation to anger the residents and pave the way for a "Marawi Siege Part 2".
Padilla added it will be hard to explain why, despite a budget, authorities could not give them basic services - especially water, which he said is the source of life.
Among the projects that have yet to be implemented are a bulk water supply system worth P225 million, and a sewage treatment system worth P676 million.
"Ano po ba ang future nitong sewage treatment system at bulk water system? (What is the fate of the sewage system and bulk water system?)
'Yun pong mga itutuloy pa ba ang patubig sa temporary shelter, e uuwi na mga tao sa bahay nila? Anong gagawin sa proyektong nandoon (Are we still pushing through with water projects for temporary shelters when many of the occupants are about to leave? What happens to the projects)?" Padilla asked the LWUA.
"Kahilingan ko sa LWUA, maawa kayo sa Marawi at ito talaga gusto natin ng katahimikan sa bayan natin gawin natin mandato natin (I ask the LWUA to have compassion on Marawi residents - if we want peace in our country, let's do our job)," he added.