MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Risa Hontiveros on Tuesday urged local government units (LGUs) to set up free drinking water stations and cooling centers to protect Filipinos from dehydration, heat stroke and other health risks as the country braces for a potentially severe Super El Niño.
Hontiveros, chairman of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, called on LGUs to coordinate with national government agencies and the private sector to ensure that residents have access to clean drinking water and safe places to cool down during periods of extreme heat.
“There should be free drinking water stations in places where Filipinos work and gather every day. Preventing dehydration and heat stroke should not mean additional expenses,” Hontoveros said in a statement.
Hontiveros said government efforts should go beyond reporting heat index levels and include practical measures to help people cope with dangerously high temperatures.
“Simply reporting the heat index is not enough. We must also ensure that people have safe places to rest and access to clean drinking water,” she said.
Hontiveros proposed installing drinking fountains and water-refilling stations in public markets, transport terminals and other crowded areas to provide free access to potable water.
She also suggested turning existing public facilities, including schools, libraries, museums and community centers, into cooling centers during periods of extreme heat.
Malls and other private establishments could likewise designate air-conditioned common areas where people could rest and cool down without being required to make a purchase, she said.
“We already have public spaces that our fellow Filipinos can use. I hope the private sector can also provide places where people can freely rest and cool down, even if they do not buy anything,” Hontiveros said.
She urged authorities to prepare these facilities in advance and tailor their use to the needs of individual communities.
“Experts have warned that this could be the strongest El Niño in history, so the government, together with LGUs and the private sector, must prepare for it,” the senator said.
“When a typhoon strikes, we know that we need evacuation centers and work and class suspensions. Now that we may experience extreme heat, we also need to prepare just as seriously,” she added.
