Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Jonvic Remulla, through the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), delivered 14 firetrucks of water to lead the emergency rationing operation to water supply disconnected Barangay Tumana, Marikina City.

Remulla coordinated with the BFP, one of the DILG’s attached agencies, to provide a temporary remedy for the 4,000 families of the barangay suffering from water supply loss.

The DILG Chief, along with Marikina 2nd District Representative Atty. Miro Quimbo, personally assessed the situation on the ground and oversaw the water rationing to the residents through the BFP-owned firetrucks.

The Manila Water recently discontinued its water service operations in the barangay due to unpaid bills by the barangay officials. An unremitted balance worth more than P37-million by the barangay led to the water service provider disconnecting 13 common watering points within their locality.

Meanwhile, the local government unit (LGU) of Marikina has initiated the settlement of the outstanding water bill debt of Barangay Tumana to Manila Water through an ordinance appropriating P15-million which resulted to the restoration of the water service supply early Saturday.

Also present during the event was BFP-National Capital Region (BFP-NCR) Acting Regional Director FSSUPT Catalino Ramos Jr. who spearheaded the BFP personnel in the water rationing activity in the area. BFP remains instrumental in bridging water supply scarcity through the conduct of free water rationing operations among affected communities during the El Niño phenomenon or damaged pipeline incidents.

The DILG’s move to provide immediate solution to LGUs’ needs fulfills President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ‘s push for strengthened support to local governments in safeguarding public health through sufficient water resources among communities.