MANILA -- President Ferdinand R. Marcos on Monday renewed his push to establish a Department of Water Resources to set policies and implement structural reforms on water management that will address various issues, particularly on the “critical” fresh water supply in the country.

He made this remark in a meeting with top officials of Isabela province, who expressed support for the chief executive.

In his inaugural State of the Nation Address in July, Marcos included the establishment of the Department of Water Resources in his legislative agenda that he presented to Congress.

Meanwhile, in his meeting with officials in Isabela, they also discussed several programs to address agricultural challenges in the province and the whole Cagayan Valley, including building new dams and rehabilitation of existing ones, enhancement of post-production and irrigation facilities as well as renewable energy.

Among those who joined the meeting were Isabela Gov. Rodito Albano, Vice Gov. Faustino Dy III, and Reps. Antonio Albano (1st district), Ian Paul Dy (3rd district), Joseph Tan (4th district), Faustino Michael Carlos Dy III (5th district), Faustino Dy V (6th district) and Allan Ty (LPGMA partylist) and former Cauayan City Mayor Bernard Faustino Dy. (PND)