SP urges Leonardia to prioritize potable water in public schools
BACOLOD CITY -- Sangguniang Panglungsod Member Jocelle Batapa-Sigue recently passed an omnibus resolution requesting the City Mayor Evelio Leonardia to prioritize and treat as urgent the need for adequate, accesible, and potable water supply for all the public elementary and secondary schools in Bacolod City.
The passage of the resolution coincides with the declaration of the United Nations General Assembly designating March 22 as "World Water Day" to draw international attention to the critical lack of clean, safe drinking water worldwide.
Batapa-Sigue said that the "world water crisis is one of the largest public health issues of our time. Nearly 1.1 billion people (roughly 20% of the world's population) lack access to safe drinking water.
During the regular session held last Wednesday, Batapa-Sigue also passed a resolution requesting the Bacolod City Water District (Baciwa) to conduct a comprehensive technical diagnosis or check-up of all existing pipes and lines that might cause leaks resulting to huge water bills reported by some schools for purposes of water conservation and reduction of water bills.
She cited that according to UNICEF/WHO data in 2005, the lack of clean, safe drinking water is estimated to kill almost 4,500 children per day. In fact out of the 2.2 million unsafe drinking water deaths in 2004, 90% were children under the age of five.
Water is essential to the treatment of diseases, something especially critical for children. The world water crisis is created by a confluence of factors including climate and geography. "The lack of clean water, coupled with the lack of basic sanitation and a dearth of hygiene education, is one of the largest obstacles to progress and development in these regions and across the world," Batapa-Sigue added.
Batapa-Sigue also said that here in Bacolod City, less than one-half to only about twenty (20) percent of the public secondary and elementary schools have access to clean and potable water provided by the Baciwa.
She believes that more than one-half of these schools have been disconnected from Baciwa due to arrearages. "With this present state of water supply for all public schools in Bacolod City, the city government must prioritize budget for potable and accessible water in the local school board budget,” the lady councilor said.