On President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive, local water authorities are now checking 532 water districts nationwide to ensure reliable water supply in all schools as classes start on June 16.

During a Malacañang press briefing on Friday, Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA) Administrator Jose Moises Salonga said a memorandum circular had been sent to 532 water districts, instructing them to fix water supply problems in their respective areas, particularly those affecting schools.

The leadership of the water districts must also report all matters related to water supply in their jurisdiction.

“This (memorandum circular) covers both private and public schools. We are now processing all of those reports,” Salonga said.

He said LWUA should be done processing the reports by Tuesday and present the findings to the President.

“What we’ve planned to do is to come up with short-term solutions as well as systemic long-term solutions,” Salonga said.

President Marcos himself ordered the assurance of a stable water supply in schools during his visit to two schools in Bulacan to kick off the annual Brigada Eskwela school cleanup last Monday.

The Chief Executive noticed for himself that there was no available water in the toilets of the two public schools he visited in Malolos City and San Miguel town.

President Marcos expressed concern that schoolchildren could get ill if there was no clean and stable water supply, stressing that access to clean and stable water supply is a basic necessity.

“Over the past week, matindi pa sa tawag sa 8888 ang nakuha namin kasi mismong Presidente ang nag-advocate sa consumers. So we had no choice but to act forthwith,” Salonga said, referring to the Citizens’ Complaint Hotline.

LWUA oversees 532 water districts in the country that manage and maintain water supply systems in cities and municipalities outside Metro Manila. | PND