President Marcos has sought for the immediate passage of the Waste-to-Energy Bill to address the perennial flooding problem in the country.
During the 6th Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC) meeting at the Malacañan Palace on Wednesday, Sept. 25, Marcos cited the need to revisit the proposed measure, noting the waste-to-energy measure is an important discussion in flood control “because the garbage problem is actually severe.”
“We have to look at it in a more urgent sense because it really becomes such an important part of the flood control program,” Marcos said during the meeting.
The President said the waste-to-energy projects have also reduced flooding by 40 percent, adding that it has to be implemented at the local government level
“I think waste-to-energy now has taken on a new role. It is no longer just for garbage, or waste disposal or waste management. It is also now very much part of the flood control effort,” Marcos added.
The Waste-to-Energy Bill was approved on third reading by the House of Representatives, and is still pending for the second reading at the Senate.
Water management reorganization
The Chief Executive is also pushing for the reorganization of water management in the country through the creation of a Department of Water Resources.
“It’s a department because we are going to reorganize everything. But the original idea was that we will reorganize the entire water management process in the Philippines. But because of the exigencies of climate change, we really have to direct our efforts, our attention to [water],” Marcos said when asked if he is keen to turn the water resources department into an “umbrella agency” instead of an independent agency.
Marcos told Senate President Francis Escudero that Malacañang will come up with an executive version of the Department of Water Resources bill, which the Senate leader said, will be used for debates in the upper chamber.
Under the adjusted priorities in water resources, Marcos said he prefers to give the flood control job directly to the water resources body with the National Irrigation Authority (NIA) as one of the coordinating agencies.
The President also argued that water problems such as flooding and irrigation can’t be solved on a piecemeal basis, prompting the need for a comprehensive plan.
“The mayor of a municipality will only think about what’s happening in their municipality. But water just not work that way. Hindi nangingilala ng boundary ang tubig, kung saan-saan. Basta kung saan yung puwedeng daanan, dumadaan doon (Water does not know boundarie, it will flow wherever),” he explained.
“That’s why there has to be an overall plan. So, I really think that the we have to include all of those agencies,” he further said.