President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Wednesday urged dam operators in the country to maximize their facilities not only for providing water but also for generating renewable energy.

In his speech during the impounding process ceremony at the Upper Wawa Dam in Montalban, Rizal, President Marcos called on the dam operators to partner with the government in achieving a more sustainable and energy-efficient country.

“I also call on our stakeholders, particularly those operating other dams nationwide, to maximize the use of your facilities by integrating other uses for the captured water, such as for the generation of renewable energy,” he said.

“Let us work together in this endeavor to create a more sustainable and energy-efficient future for our nation,” he added.

The Chief Executive also stressed the need for more multi-purpose dams to address increasing demand for water.

“We need to build more multi-purpose dams to ensure water supply not only for drinking but also for irrigation, power generation, flood control, aquaculture, and hopefully other technologies that we may engage in the future,” he said.

President Marcos called on the public to amplify efforts to conserve the country’s water resources, noting that stewardship of these resources is a shared responsibility.

He further affirmed the administration’s commitment to address water security woes in the country.

“Rest assured that this Administration remains firm in its resolve to pursue a more transformative endeavor that will champion the optimal health and growth of Filipinos across the country,” Marcos said.

“We will continue to address water security challenges to ensure that every Filipino has access to sufficient and clean water. At the end of the day, water remains at the core, not only for human survival but also for national development,” he added.

President Marcos led the ceremonial pressing of the button to close the bottom outlet of the dam, signaling the final impounding process of the facility. PND