SP Highlights: For a clean and potable water

We can survive for 30 days or more without food. However, without water, studies show that we can only last for a week. This may not be surprising though if we think of the fact that our blood is estimated to be comprised of 83 percent water and the human brain is made up of about 75 percent water. Given the importance of water in our survival and daily living, it is incumbent upon the city government to make sure that all necessary measures in safeguarding and enhancing water quality are in place. Contamination of water at its source and in the existing 80 water refilling stations in Naga should be avoided at all costs. Hence, the 12th Sangguniang Panlungsod of Naga, thru the sponsorship of Councilor Jose C. Rañola, MD, chairperson of the Committee on Health, and his counterpart, City Youth Councilor Audrey Jescel Escoto, enacted Ordinance No. 2017-039, or “The Naga City Drinking Water Quality Regulatory Ordinance.” This legislative measure generally aims to ensure the cleanliness and potability of the water being supplied in and by all water supply systems and distributors. To realize its objectives, all water systems in Naga will undergo a periodic microbiological analysis at an interval of no longer than six months. Systematic chemical examination and test for detection of possible radioactive contamination will be conducted annually. As for newly-constructed water systems, it is required that all of the said procedures (physical, chemical and microbiological tests, as well as an examination for detection of possible radio-active contamination) be done before they can operate and serve the public. All assessments shall be performed only in private or public laboratories duly-accredited by the Department of Health. The criteria set in DOH’s National Drinking Standards shall be the one to be observed. In case an agency or personnel of the government, duly-authorized and so ordered to collect samples for analysis, no operator, manager or operator of any water supply system shall prohibit the collection of water sample. Otherwise, it shall be considered as a violation of the ordinance, punishable by a fine of P1,000.00 for the first offense, P3,000.00 for the second offense and, for the third offense, a fine of P5,000.00 and cancellation of business permit. Also provided in the ordinance is the sealing of refilled water containers. No person shall dispense, sell or distribute contaminated water for drinking, for it is imperative that all water supply systems must maintain the highest water quality standards laid down in the Sanitary Code of the Philippines and other relevant laws and regulations. Violations thereof are also punishable under the ordinance. To ensure the effective implementation of Ordinance No. 2017-039, the Naga City Drinking Water Quality Monitoring Committee is created. It is chaired by the Chairman of the SP Committee on Health and co-chaired by the City Health Office. The Manager of the Metro Naga Water District, the Assistant City Health Officer, the Sanitary Inspector, the City Engineer, the City Environment Officer, the Public Safety Officer, the Chairperson of the Naga City People’s Council, the head of Task Force Tubig, and a representative from the Department of Health will sit as members of the committee. Among said committee’s primary functions are to evaluate the laboratory results and formulate policies and prescribe regulatory measures based thereon. We aim to live in a Maogmang Lugar, constituted not only of happy but also healthy and productive people. A clean and potable water is indispensable to the realization to such vision. Tabarang po kita sa pag-mantenir nin malinig na inomong tubig.