MABALACAT CITY -- Mayor Crisostomo Garbo wants high quality drinking water for Mabalaqueños.
Through Executive Order (EO) No. 012 which reconstitutes the city's Local Drinking Water Quality Monitoring Committee, Garbo has urged water service providers to comply with the standards of drinking water as prescribed by the Department of Health.
"You have to comply with what was required by the law," Garbo said during a meeting water service providers in the city.
Garbo issued the EO highlighting Presidential Decree No. 856 known as the "Code on Sanitation of the Philippines," which mandates local and private stakeholders to comply with the drinking water quality standards for the safety of the people.
The sanitation code prescribes standards for drinking water quality, and their bacteriological and chemical examinations. Together with the evaluation of results, these shall conform to the criteria set by the DOH under the Philippine National Standards for Drinking Water (PNSDW).
The PNSDW of 2017 contains implementing guidelines for all drinking-water service providers which include government and private developers and operators, bulk water suppliers, water refilling station operators, drinking water firms, and ice manufacturers.
City health officer Ma. Clara Aquino warned water service providers that non-compliance with the law will pose danger to the general public's health.
Meanwhile, Provincial Sanitary Engineer Amelia Arce, explained to water service providers what was mandatory in the PNSDW during the meeting.
A regular consultation with water service providers has been set to monitor the drinking water quality in the city.