The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) is seeking ₱500 million to support water filtration and desalination technologies, BusinessMirror reports.
The funding request is tied to the agency's push to address water scarcity in communities that have limited access to potable water. According to BusinessMirror, DOST is prioritizing these technologies as part of its response to El Niño conditions.
The department has also been highlighting cost-effective tools to counter El Niño's effects, and has emphasized the role of science-based approaches in preparing for the dry spell, as reported by the Philippine Information Agency and GMA Network.
DOST's planned interventions focus on areas where residents struggle to obtain safe drinking water, with filtration and desalination positioned as the main technical options under consideration.
The agency's proposals come as El Niño preparedness remains a government concern, and the requested amount would cover the deployment of water technology solutions in affected communities.
What to watch next: whether lawmakers approve the ₱500 million request and how DOST allocates the funds across filtration and desalination projects.
