But there are many areas in the Philippines that direly need water for cooking, for drinking, for cleaning, for taking a bath.
Absent water in your body, it spells disaster.
In the island provinces of the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) like Sulu, there are islands that have no potable water since time immemorial, as the Ministry of the Interior and Local Government (MILG) had pointed out.
Thus, in the MILG scheme of things one of its many projects is the provision of water system, including installation of desalination machines.
MILG Minister Naguib G. Sinarimbo has reported that one the agency’s desalination machine facilities installed on the island of Pata, Sulu, is now benefiting the long-time, potable water-starved residents.
The MILG chief assured continuing support for BARMM communities and their residents.
“Our desalination machine in the island municipality of Pata in Sulu is now serving our constituents there. We thank the Chief Minister Al-Haj Murad Ebrahim for continuing to support the programs of the Ministry. We will continue to serve our people,” Sinarimbo assured.
While saying this, he said another desalination machine facility will be installed on Bonggo Island of the same province. He said the equipment that draws water from and sea and converts it into potable water has already been procured. “Only delivery is being awaited.”
Comprising the Bangsamoro autonomous region are the provinces of Basilan, Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi, the cities of Cotabato, Lamitan, and Marawi as well as 63 villages designated as Special Geographic Area (SGA) in North Cotabato province (which itself is not part of BARMM).
Meanwhile, Sinarimbo also reported progress on the implementation of a municipal hall building project of the MILG in Sultan Dumalondong, Lanao del Sur.
“Progress in the implementation of the Municipal Hall building project of the Ministry of the Interior and Local Government for the municipality of Sultan Dumalondong, in Lanao del Sur. Slowly, this once inaccessible municipality is now slowly rising to take part in the overall development of the Bangsamoro,” the MILF head said.
Another project of the MILG, this time a public market, has already broke ground in the municipality of Tuburan, Basilan province.
He cited Ra Diyah Akmad, MILG provincial director, “for facilitating this. As directed by the Chief Minister Al-Haj Murad Ebrahim, we will make sure that no one is left behind.” (✓)