Senate Budget Push
“We have to make sure that our farmers really have a source of water,” Sen. Risa Hontiveros said as she pushed for a super El Niño-ready 2027 national budget, The Manila Times reported.
Hontiveros urged government agencies and local government units to establish public cooling spaces and provide free drinking water in crowded areas. She noted that access to water during extreme heat can mean the difference between life and death.
The senator acts as vice chairman of the Senate budget panel handling the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and the Department of Social Welfare and Development. She is pushing for increased funding for water conservation, environmental protection, and livelihood programs.
How to ensure water safety during super El Niño
The Department of Health advised the public against relying entirely on water filtration devices during the impending super El Niño. Health Assistant Secretary Tagumpay Maniquis said raw water containing debris and suspended solids must be pretreated to prevent filters from clogging, according to Philstar.com.
Maniquis explained that filters with a 0.1-micron capacity cannot remove smaller viruses or bacteria unless the water is boiled or treated with chlorine tablets. The Department of Health also urged families to monitor children’s nutritional status regularly at local health centers, the Philippine Information Agency reported.
Hontiveros said the government must identify and protect available water sources while improving coordination between the environment department and the Department of Agriculture. She also vowed to monitor the implementation of Universal Health Care during budget deliberations.
Agricultural Preparation
Education Secretary Sonny Angara directed schools to plant drought-tolerant and short-cycle crops to protect feeding programs from dry spells, Philstar.com reported. Angara recommended fast-growing crops including munggo, okra, malunggay, saluyot, alugbati, and kamote.
Schools must also adopt water-saving measures such as organic mulching, drip irrigation, and rainwater harvesting. Meanwhile, Senate agriculture committee chairman Francis Pangilinan stated that government crackdowns should target agricultural cartel masterminds rather than low-level retailers, according to Philstar.com.
What cooling spaces and water disinfection methods to use
What types of cooling spaces did Hontiveros propose?
Hontiveros proposed public cooling spaces including shopping malls where citizens can seek temporary relief from extreme heat without purchasing anything.
How can the public disinfect water smaller than 0.1 micron?
The Department of Health recommends boiling the water or using chlorine tablets to deactivate viruses and bacteria smaller than 0.1 micron.
Which crops did the Department of Education recommend for schools?
Education Secretary Sonny Angara recommended planting drought-resistant crops like munggo, okra, malunggay, saluyot, alugbati, and kamote to counter dry spells.
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