Senator Nancy Binay on Monday called on the government to provide a “holistic and comprehensive water resource plan” after the state weather bureau PAGASA declared the beginning of the warm and dry season in the country.

In a statement, Binay lamented the perennial water shortage being experienced by Filipinos during the dry season, which could be worsened by the looming El Niño phenomenon.

“We have been affected by El Niño for the past decades, but every time dry season comes, we are always surprised because of the depleting water supply,” she said.

“On the part of the government, it would be much appreciated if the NWRB [National Water Resources Board] can share its holistic and comprehensive water resource plan, their water allocation and reuse policy down to the LGUs so that it can be implemented in the community level,” she added.

The lawmaker also wanted to know whether Republic Act 6716 or the Rainwater Collector and Springs Development Act has been properly implemented since its enactment in 1989.

“How many rainwater collection systems in over 42,000 barangays in the country have been constructed or are being constructed by the government?” she asked. “Who is in charge of the maintenance? How many of them are already dilapidated or in need of rehabilitation or how many are still being used?”

Binay also reminded the public that the water shortage is not a problem that the government should resolve alone, stressing that “everyone could be part of the solution.”

“The water crisis and El Niño are everybody’s issues. We all have a part in the solution, and this is not just under one sector, institution, agency, or company. We all need to prepare,” she said.

“My appeal to our fellow consumers is to start conserving water and encourage our household to be practical in utilizing water,” she added.