MAYOR Maria Isabelle Climaco-Salazar has reiterated her request for Task Force El Niño of the Zamboanga City Water District (ZCWD) to take the command in addressing the water crisis that the city is currently facing.
"I made this clear to (Board) Chairman (Jayvee) Atilano and General Manager (Leonardo) Vasquez during our last meeting in City Hall," Salazar said.
Salazar explained the local government could have taken over the command to serve the interest of the people, but it is the technical expertise, the Board, the funding and "the over-all structure of professionals that are there to man and ensure what needs to be done."
Clearly, Salazar said water supply in the city is indeed scarce nowadays due to the dry spell that prompted the City Government to take actions to assist the agriculture sector, being the most vulnerable sector.
She said the City Government will pump in at least P40 million to assist the farmers; the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO) will provide the needed equipment to source out alternative source of water through drilling rigs; and the entire sector of the City Government will serve as responder to the El Niño crisis in order to supplement the directions.
"We take our cue from the ZCWD because it is the mandated agency in the forefront of carrying out and providing potable water," she stressed.
She assured that the local government is ready to provide all what is needed to alleviate the current water situation. (Bong Garcia/VoxPop Philippines)
