MANILA, Philippines — The government is obliged to ensure that citizens have access to safe drinking water and sanitation amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) said on Thursday. ADVERTISEMENT“The CHR underscores the obligation of the government to guarantee people’s access to water and sanitation, particularly those who are in the most vulnerable situations,” she added. The CHR spokesperson warned that if water supplies are disrupted, the country could see an increase in COVID-19 cases on top of the current surge. The country is currently witnessing a surge in COVID-19 cases, with over 99,000 active cases as of Thursday. If water services were disrupted, it could mean spikes in coronavirus outbreaks, particularly in high-density communities where social distancing is not possible,” she stressed.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer March 25, 2021 09:45 UTC