President Marcos has called on concerned government agencies to boost their efforts to ensure there would be enough supply of water in the areas projected to be gravely affected by the looming El Niño phenomenon.

Marcos said this during the inauguration of Maynilad’s Poblacion Water Treatment Plant (WTP) in Muntinlupa City on Friday, Dec. 15, a few hours before he departed Manila for Japan.

In his speech, the President recognized the project's timeliness considering the ongoing El Niño forecasted to last until April 2024.

“With El Niño projected to last until the second quarter of 2024, we must prioritize the repair of water pipes to prevent leakages and the completion of ongoing water supply projects to ensure that we have adequate supply,” he said.

“And so, let us call upon the pertinent government agencies to intensify their vigilance in overseeing the construction of water supply facilities, particularly in regions grappling with water scarcity,” he added.

The P11-billion Poblacion WTP is Maynilad’s third facility that taps into Laguna Lake as an alternate raw water source. It aims to supply an additional 150 million liters per day (MLD) of water to consumers in Parañaque, Las Piñas, Muntinlupa, and Cavite.

The facility is part of Maynilad’s P220-billion Service Enhancement Program from 2023 to 2027 which seeks to promote enhanced water sustainability and climate resilience.

Meanwhile, President Marcos encouraged the private sector to continue working with the government to provide a clean water supply to consumers across the country.

“As we confront present and future challenges, this project is a testament to the positive outcomes that we might achieve when the public and private sectors unite for a greater good,” he said.

“I invite the private sector once more to further explore opportunities to collaborate with the government in addressing our water supply challenges," he added.