SENATOR Ana Theresia N. Hontiveros-Baraquel on Tuesday urged local government units (LGUs) to provide their constituents with free drinking water to combat health risks posed by the severe El Niño.
In a statement, Ms. Hontiveros emphasized that experts project the upcoming El Niño to be the most severe in history, saying the national government must work with LGUs and the private sector to prepare.
She said LGUs and the national government can collaborate in establishing hydration stations, such as drinking fountains, in areas frequented by the public.
They can also convert public spaces such as schools, libraries, museums, and community centers into cooling shelters, the senator added.
“There should be free drinking water stations in areas where our fellow citizens work and gather daily,” Ms. Hontiveros said in Tagalog. “It should not be an additional cost to avoid dehydration and heat stroke.”
Malls and other private establishments, meanwhile, can designate air-conditioned common areas for people to rest and cool down without having to make any purchase, the senator noted.
The World Meteorological Organization projected a near 100% likelihood that the El Niño will persist through February 2027, with the potential to be the strongest one since the 1950s. — Francessca S. Abalos