MANILA — The San Juan City government on Monday celebrated Wattah Wattah Festival, in honor of its patron St. John the Baptist, amid water shortage in some areas of the metropolis.
Randy Parkucho, a fireman, said the dousing of water every June 24 has been a tradition and is impossible to stop even when there is a water shortage.
“We’re first time volunteers from Sta. Ana, Manila. Nilimitahan naman ng Manila Water ang tubig na ibinigay sa amin dahil sa water problem pero utos naman ng mayora ng San Juan na sumali kami sa basaan. Talagang limitado lang ang tubig, 300 gallons lang ang tanker namin (The Manila Water provided us with limited water but San Juan Mayor told us to join. The water is limited, our tanker carries only 300 gallons of water),” Parkucho said.
Outgoing San Juan Mayor Guia Gomez said adjustments have been made for the celebration because of the water problem which affected around 80 percent of San Juan.
“Before, we had 50 fire trucks coming from Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, and other places, but now they managed to send just a few, around 16 trucks, and apart from the motorcade, these trucks are going around the barangays, giving water to those who do not have water,” Gomez said. (PNA)
