Revilla: Creating rainwater harvesting facilities long-term solution to dry spell
Senator Ramon “Bong’’ Revilla Jr. has emphasized the importance of integrating rainwater harvesting facilities in new structural development projects to provide a long-term solution to the El Ñino phenomenon that hits the country periodically.
Revilla filed Senate Bill 990, or the “Rainwater Harvesting Facility Act of 2022,” in August last year in the hopes of abating the effects of the recurring El Niño phenomenon.
The bill seeks to mandate the establishment, management, maintenance, and regulation of rainwater harvesting facilities in all new institutional, commercial, industrial, and residential development projects in Metro Manila.
Project developers whose project area is more than 100 square meters shall reserve, develop, and maintain the proposed facility.
Meanwhile, project developers of proposed commercial, industrial, and residential development or any residential multi-dwelling units with land area of more than 1,000 square meters must submit a Rainwater Management Plan (RMP) as part of the site development application and approval process.
Revilla said that the El Niño is a recurring natural phenomenon that needs a long term solution and he believes that rainwater harvesting would greatly mitigate its effects.
According to reports, the water level of Angat Dam and five dams in the country has already dipped below minimum operating level because of the dry spell currently being experienced in the country.