The provincial government of Ilocos Norte has announced the procurement of a mobile water desalination machine to provide safe and reliable drinking water to communities experiencing water scarcity, particularly in remote, coastal and disaster-affected areas.
Ilocos Norte Gov. Cecilia Araneta-Marcos confirmed this in a press conference on Monday, saying, “the machine is designed to convert saltwater and other available water sources into potable water to help address the needs of communities with limited access to clean water.”
The equipment can be rapidly deployed during emergencies, prolonged dry spells and other situations that disrupt regular water supplies, particularly in the second district of Ilocos Norte.
“The procurement of a mobile water desalination machine for the second district is underway. This forms part of our effort to strengthen water security, improve disaster preparedness and ensure that vulnerable communities have access to safe drinking water,” she said.
Earlier, the provincial government had initially purchased a portable desalination machine for the 4th Marine Brigade at Camp Cape Bojeador in Burgos, Ilocos Norte, to provide them with access to potable water from seawater.
Based on water testing done, the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office head, Marcell Tabije, said result proves that the quality of water is even “more potable than bottled water.”
Sourced from the Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management fund, the mobile seawater reverse osmosis and water filtration system is designed to provide immediate access to potable water in disaster-affected and water-scarce communities. It reflects a broader national priority on climate adaptation and resilient basic services, particularly in coastal areas frequently affected by typhoons, storm surges and prolonged dry spells.
The PHP8.5 million project was financed through a pooled allocation from several provincial government offices and DRRM-related funds, reflecting inter-agency coordination in strengthening resilience investments. (PNA)