Got Water?

Recently, the country's been hit by low water supplies. Certain parts of the Metro are definitely under water rationing. Some lawmakers say that other parts of the nation are suffering a similar fate. Personally, I'd confirm those claims through a more reliable source. Yes, I don't consider politicians to be the most credible information source.

What's annoying is that, just like the Ondoy Fiasco, the water problem could have been mitigated. For one we apparently have a rainwater collection act which asks that collection wells be placed in local government units. Republic Act 6716 was approved in 1989 and its still not being fully implemented. Someone smart guys and gals actually had vision. Unfortunately, some other people decidedt they were just too busy to implement these airy-fairy ideas. Instead, "practical and concrete" projects were favored. Like rain repelling concrete basketball courts... and maybe overpriced street lights and road signs.

And while a lot of us are suffering from the shortage, I also wonder how many of us actually did our small part in saving water. Even little things like:

1. Not littering in public. A lot of the waste gets washed into the waterways.
2. Not polluting waterways. Why go the roundabout route when you can throw garbage directly into streams and rivers? Not helpful.
3. Not Living in areas near waterways. Because you will pollute them if you're too close.
4. Not Living in watersheds which are restricted areas. See number 3.
5. Not indiscriminately slashing and burning trees. Especially if you are living in a watershed.
6. Not supporting Illegal Loggers. Especially in a watershed.
7. Fighting officials who actually want to implement the right laws. You know these officials. They remove squatters from watersheds or stop people from polluting. They get called anti-poor.
8. Voting the wrong politicians. Some politicos want you to feel that environmentalism is a burgis issue. Environmental issues are not just for the middle and upper class. Case in point - in this water shortage, it's the poor who suffer the most.