Vice Gov. Rene Relampagos
Vice Gov. Rene Relampagos and the members of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) of Bohol approved in third and final reading an ordinance encouraging all houses in the province to collect rainwater and other water sources to help address the need of potable and sustainable water in the province, a report from the SP says.
According to Dr. Larry Pamugas, Asst. Provincial Agriculturist, the measure was developed in order to ensure continuous water provision in the province especially during periods of droughts like the El Niño phenomenon.
The said ordinance specifically aims, among others, rainwater to serve as possible source of potable water and increase water supply for production of crops.
Furthermore, Pamugas said that the new ordinance is patterned from Tagbilaran City’s rain water collection ordinance.
The newly-approved ordinance states that all local government units (LGUs) in the province are mandated to include in their programs and projects the establishment of rain water collection system in their respective jurisdiction, in partnership with the national government agencies and provincial government agencies that may have similar programs.
Private infrastructures as well as private residences are also encouraged to install rain collection systems in their respective properties in support of the government’s rainwater collection program as a complementary measure to the climate change mitigation efforts.
Relampagos who led the SP in approving the said legislative measure, urged everybody not to conserve water, and as much as possible, collect and store rain water.
Relampagos also added that the new measure is in relation to the full implementation of Republic Act No. 6716 also known as the Rainwater Collector and Springs Development Act of 1989, which requires the construction of rainwater collectors in every barangay.
However, Relampagos said that the installation of rainwater collector system for every household is not compulsory.