The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) on Thursday said it would build more reservoirs or rainwater collectors systems (RWCs) across the country to negate the harmful effects of both floodings and long dry spells such as the El Niño phenomenon.
DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan, in a statement, said “it is high time to provide RWCs in public facilities to help mitigate the impact of climate threats.”
“The rainy season and the threat of El Niño increase the demand to build disaster-resilient infrastructure that will be beneficial in harvesting rainwater intended for agriculture, commercial, and domestic use,” Bonoan said.
The RWCs were expected to enable the country to overcome challenges on water supply and flooding.
Bonoan directed all the regional and district engineering officials to secure the respective lists of proposed RWC beneficiaries.
“Using the list of proposed beneficiaries, we will be able to determine the total serving population that will be benefited by the project and reduces the daily burden of people in areas with physical water scarcity,” Bonoan said.
The DPWH has earmarked A P582.9-million for the construction of additional RWCs throughout the country this year, under the agency’s INFRAgenda 2028.
Among the regions with the highest allocations include Calabarzon, Bicol, and Western Visayas with P47.64 million each; followed by Central Luzon and Central Visayas with P44.84 million each; and P42.04 million for Eastern Visayas.
The budget for the remaining regions ranges from P25.22 million to P39.23 million each.