The Department of the Interior and Local Government enjoined local government units to prioritize and include water supply and sanitation (WSS) projects in their devolution transition plans in preparation for the implementation of the Supreme Court ruling on Mandanas-Garcia in 2022.
Sec. Eduardo M. Año called on governors, mayors, and punong barangays to give priority to access to potable water supply, especially in waterless communities and far-flung areas that still largely depend on wells and springs, now that they will have more budget for priority development projects with the Mandanas implementation.
“Napakahalaga ng tubig sa ating pang-araw araw na buhay. Ngayong madadagdagan na ang kaban ng bayan ng mga LGUs sa simula ng pagpapatupad ng Mandanas ruling sa 2022, nawa’y isulong ninyo ang pagkakaroon ng ligtas at malinis na pagkukuhanan ng tubig para sa inyong mga nasasakupan,” he added.
Año said the Mandanas implementation calls for a higher level of service from the LGUs in providing for the basic needs of communities, which includes access to potable and clean water supply.
“The Mandanas ruling challenges LGUs to step up their game in terms of the delivery of essential public services now that they have more resources at their disposal to take care of the needs of their constituents. Among such essentials is the provision of greater access to clean drinking water,” he said.
Año said LGUs are mandated to lay down their programs, projects and activities in the DTPs as part of the preparations for the roll out of the Mandanas implementation beginning 2022.
Under Executive Order 138 signed by President Rodrigo R. Duterte, all LGUs are tasked to formulate and prepare their DTPs to guide the transition in their full assumption of the devolved roles and responsibilities from the national government, including their increased share in all national taxes and revenues in line with the implementation of the Mandanas-Garcia ruling.
Año said for the past several years, the DILG has been relentless in the pursuit of granting financial and capacity development for level 1, 2 and 3 water supply, particularly to the poor and waterless communities.
So far, a total of 7,921 sub-projects have been completed since 2012 under DILG’s Provision of Potable Water Supply-Sagana at Ligtas naTubig sa Lahat Program managed by the Office of the Project Development Services-Water Supply and Sanitation Project Management Office. – Press release
