Gov’t releases P1B for water program

Malacañang has released P1 billion to fund a nationwide potable water supply program that is meant to benefit 100 poor towns, Budget Secretary Florencio B. Abad said Wednesday.

Abad said the program is particularly aimed at areas where beneficiaries of the conditional cash transfer (CCT) program reside.

The allotment “will be used to construct level 1 and level 2 water supply system in beneficiary municipalities or the upgrading and rehabilitation of existing system,” he said.

A level 1 system is one that provides water at single points or stand-alone, such as shallow wells, hand pumps and rainwater collectors.

Level 2 refers to a system with piped water supply tapped from a spring or bore well and which can be accessed at a communal point.

“The Aquino administration is committed to reduce the number of people without constant access to potable water by half, in line with our Millennium Development Goals,” Abad said.