Camp General Macario Peralta Jr in Jamindan, Capiz (Photo courtesy of 3DPAO)
ILOILO CITY – Water conservation measures are already in place in Camp General Macario Peralta Jr., one of the biggest camps of the Philippine Army, in Jamindan, Capiz, according to the 3rd Infantry Division Public Affairs Office (3DPAO) on Friday.
“The measures are just being reinforced. We have an installation management battalion and an engineering (team) that look into the piping and faucets to ensure no leaks. We are lucky at the division because we have natural sources of water,” DPAO chief Lt. Col. J-Jay Javines said on Friday.
Javines said Camp Peralta, around 33,000 hectares, sources water from springs coming from the Malinamon Falls, deep wells and the Jamindan River.
He added that 70 to 80 percent of their water supply comes from these sources.
While there are plenty of sources, they also experience scarcity when the natural springs dry up, so they ration water to their units.
On Thursday, Department of National Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. ordered all military camp commanders to take the lead in water conservation measures amid the El Niño phenomenon.
Task Force El Niño spokesperson and Communications Assistant Secretary Joel Villarama previously assured that the government will continue implementing measures to stave off the effects of El Niño, like the repairs of irrigation systems in affected areas to ensure efficient water supply to crops and the distribution of farm inputs and implements to farmers.
“As the President has emphasized, our approach to El Niño is number one intervention. Number two, mitigation and then we enjoin everyone, it’s a whole of government approach,” Villarama said during a Palace press briefing on Feb. 13.
“Basically, the challenge is for the unforeseen events but as I said, as the President mentioned in his speech in Davao last week, under “Bagong Pilipinas,” we try to nip the problem in the bud, not let them catch us off guard,” he added. (PNA)
