MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has appointed a new Chairman of the Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA) today, May 24, 2023.
Ronnie Ong has been named Chairman of the Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA), the country’s chief institution in promoting and overseeing the development of water supply systems in provincial cities and municipalities outside of Metro Manila.
Ong was previously a member of the 18th Congress from 2019-2022 and served as Vice-Chairman of the Committee on Rural Development, as well as Member of the Committee on Ways and Means. The new LWUA chairman states, “Access to safe, potable water is a basic right that should be given to each and every Filipino. Through LWUA, we hope to ensure that provincial areas, no matter how far-flung they are, are given universal access to safe water, sanitation as well as sustainable septage and sewerage management. Most of all, it is our vision to develop our local water districts into self-sustaining institutions.”
During Ong’s time as Congressman, he was known for taking an active role on-ground in many provincial areas especially during the height of the pandemic, even having been dubbed by PeopleAsia as the “frontliner Congressman,” for his efforts to serve not just the public but also the medical and safety frontline workers as well. More than being a policy-maker, Ong made sure that his authored house bills, while still pending or being tackled by Congress, already have on-ground projects to test their effectiveness. Such projects include Tulong sa Senior Citizen Work Program providing employment to senior citizens at airports, government agencies, hospitals, and universities, as well as the establishment of e-learning hubs dubbed as “E-skwela Hubs,” around the country. He was also known to pioneer animal welfare in Congress and has worked with various animal rescue organizations.
One of his notable on-ground roles, even before taking on the helm as LWUA chairman, was his distribution of portable community water filters to barangays in Bohol in the aftermath of Typhoon Odette, so that residents can have access to clean drinking water even before relief goods come in. “Nakasalalay ang buhay ng lahat sa tubig. At karapatan pa rin ng bawat mamamayan ang malinis at maayos na supply ng tubig kahit pa may bagyo, kalamidad, o bagong pandemya na dumating,” Ong said.
“We will continue to work with the same innovation as we did as a policymaker and as a man on-the-ground in actively helping our people in need. This time, through LWUA, we will make sure that each local water district is sustainable and self-reliant, therefore positively impacting the communities they are in – above and beyond,” Ong further stated.
As Chairman of the agency, Ong will be working closely with the Water Resources Management Office created recently through an Executive Order to craft a cohesive water policy and address the demands of a growing population and the effects of infrastructure delays and climate change.Ronnie Ong took his oath of office today, May 24, 2023 as Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA) Chairman at the Malacanang Palace in front of Executive Secretary Lucas P. Bersamin .