WATER FILTRATION. Batac City Mayor Albert Chua checks the rollout of the water filtration system in Batac City on July 30, 2023. The mobile water filtration and purification system is one of the priority projects of the local government to safeguard the health of local communities after massive floodings. (Photo courtesy of the city government of Batac)
LAOAG CITY – The Department of Health in the Ilocos Region (DOH-1) on Friday lauded the city government of Batac in Ilocos Norte for investing in people’s health by pioneering a mobile water filtration and purification system.
“This is a significant breakthrough in the city of Batac, the first local government unit in Ilocos Norte to have this kind of technology,” said the DOH-1 in a statement on Friday following an inspection conducted by its sanitation team on the provision of safe drinking water to its flooded residents due to the onslaught of Super Typhoon Egay, which reportedly caused PHP68 million in damages to the agriculture sector.
The DOH-1 statement came after the city government of Batac rolled out a mobile van with water filtration and purification system to bring in free, accessible and clean drinking water to local residents affected by the typhoon.
Sourced from the Batac government’s calamity fund, the mobile water filtration and purification system is one of the priority projects of the current administration to safeguard the health of local communities after massive floodings in the city.
Batac City is known for its perennial flooding problem as a diversion canal has yet to be constructed within the 14-kilometer Quiaoit River that overflows during heavy rains.
"What we can do right now is prevention to avoid waterborne diseases after a typhoon,” said Batac Mayor Albert Chua in an interview.
With a proposed funding of about PHP300 million, Chua hopes that the diversion canal will soon be constructed with the support of the national government.
Batac City was among the recipients of a PHP3 million typhoon aid under the Office of the President’s socio-civic projects fund.
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., during a typhoon briefing, pointed out that beyond the provision of bottled water, water purification units would also be made available in the region.
The Office of Civil Defense has immediately responded with at least two water filtration machines for Ilocos Region, including a backup truck from Camp Aguinaldo which can produce at least 24,000 liters of water a day. (PNA)
