President Marcos has called on Filipinos to value the resources the country is blessed with such as water and use them responsibly.

"Ladies and gentlemen, let this milestone encourage us to value the resources that we are blessed with, use them responsibly, and take part in building a more inclusive, sustainable future for everyone," Marcos said in his speech on Friday, Nov. 28.

The President said this as he inaugurated the Tunnel No. 5 of the Angat Water Transmission Improvement Project at the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) Compound Sitio Spar, Bigte Basin, in Barangay Bigte, Norzagaray, Bulacan.

According to Marcos, the opening of the tunnel provides more families with continuous and reliable water supply in their homes.

Its opening will also give way for the existing tunnels to be repaired as the tunnel serves as a backup route for the water to pass through.

"Yung mga tunnel po na sinara dahil kailangan nang mag-maintenance, kaila – maaari na ngayon natin buksan – balikan ulit, baka may pag-asa pa, baka may rehab pa para magamit pa rin natin (The tunnels that were closed for maintenance can now be revisited — they might still be usable, they might still be rehabilitated so we can make use of them again)," Marcos said.

"Mas magiging handa ang ating mga komunidad sa panahon ng tagtuyot at iba pang epekto ng ating hinaharap na climate change (Our communities will be better prepared during periods of drought and other effects of the climate change we are facing)," he added.

The President further said that the new tunnel strengthens the decades-old Umiray–Angat–Ipo–La Mesa system, the backbone that delivers water from Angat Dam to Metro Manila and to Mega Manila.

“This is why the establishment of Tunnel No. 5 is not only important, it is essential,” the President said.

Tunnel No. 5’s raw water conveyance tunnel can carry over 1.6 billion liters of water per day, which increases the system’s transport capacity from 6 billion to almost 8 billion liters of water per day.

Marcos said almost 90 percent of the water used by almost 20 million people in Metro Manila, in Bulacan, parts of Cavite and Rizal pass through the system.

"These numbers show how important it is to keep the Angat system strong, reliable, and future-ready," he said.

In his speech, the President acknowledged the steadfast support of concessionaires Maynilad and Manila Water, as well as the engineers, workers, and all those who poured their skill and effort to the project.

"This project reminds us that we can accomplish what – when the government and the private sector, and the LGUs are anchored on a shared vision,” the Chief Executive said.