Malacañang on Sunday urged Metro Manila residents to conserve water and observe the proper way of collecting it.
The Palace also assured the Metro Manila residents that there is still enough water supply.
Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. cited the National Water Resources Board headed by Secretary Rogelio Singson as saying that “we have enough water supply for Metro Manila.”
Coloma was quick to add, however, that it is still important to save water and observe the steps in collecting water, so as not to waste it.
The NWRB warned that Angat Dam, Metro Manila’s main water source, suffers from speedy evaporation due to extreme heat brought about by the El Niño phenomenon.
According to Secretary Singson, they have prepared for the actual usage (of water) with the evaporation. They have prepared for the hot environment and they have estimated how much water supply will be used considering these conditions such as the increased evaporation, Coloma said.
The NWRB has drafted an El Niño preparedness plan which includes measures given the Angat Dam condition.
This is being implemented by the El Niño Domestic Supply Management Task Force composed of the National Water Resources Board, Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System, National Irrigation Administration, Maynilad and Manila Water, Coloma said.
Coloma said they have already prepared guidelines for the allocation of water since last year in order to ensure proper allocation and supply.
He said the campaign for the conservation of water has also started since last year so that the residents would know the importance of water conservation.
On irrigation, he said, the government has given temporary permits for “shallow tube well” and “small water impounding facilities.”
“The campaign has been continuing to inform the people to conserve and not waste water. We are also continuing to coordinate with local governments and various agencies to ensure that we have sufficient supply of water, especially for drinking water,” Coloma said.
“There’s increased evaporation so we’re advocating wise use of Angat water to help prevent shortage of this liquid,” said executive director Dr. Sevillo David Jr. of the NWRB.
He noted conservation measures will help extend availability of Angat water. “We must guard against significant water loss in Angat,” he said.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said that Angat Dam’s water elevation as of 6 a.m. Saturday reached 195.30 meters or 7.03 meters above the rule curve for the day. Rule curve is the desired water level for meeting a dam’s purposes.
Angat Dam supplies water for power generation, irrigation and Metro Manila’s needs.
“Even with El Niño, we think Angat’s reserve is still sufficient to meet such purposes,” said David.
The government would prioritize supplying Angat’s irrigation water to agricultural fields needing this the most.
The dam irrigates some 20,000 hectares of land in Bulacan and Pampanga.
Pagasa said that El Niño is already weakening. Some models indicate El Niño will transition to neutral by mid-2016.
Pagasa expects seeing an active southwest monsoon or ‘habagat’ during 2016’s third quarter.