The reservoir level at Angat Dam, the major source of water for Metro Manila and surrounding provinces, fell below the minimum operating level Saturday morning, data from the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration showed.
PAGASA said that as of 6 a.m. Saturday, the water level at Angat Dam dropped to 179.99 meters from 180.45 meters a day earlier. It was also more than 20 meters below the normal high water level of 210 meters.
This forced the National Water Resources Board to cut the raw water allocation for Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System’s two concessionaires to 48 cubic meters per second effective July 8.
Maynilad Water Services Inc. corporate communications head Jennifer Rufo told TeleRadyo Serbisyo the reduction would particularly affect the west zone concession.
About 591,000 Maynilad customers are expected to suffer from a nine-hour water interruption next week because of the lower allocation from Angat.
Patrick Dizon, MWSS division manager, told CNN Philippines Maynilad customers, particularly those living in higher areas in Fairview, Quezon City may experience up to nine hours of nightly water service interruptions starting July 12.
Maynilad said it would hold a news briefing Monday to discuss details of the impact of the lower water allocation.
Meanwhile, an official of the National Economic and Development Authority said the reduction of allocation for irrigation water in favor of residential use at Angat Dam would help ease the effects of the El Nino dry spell.
NEDA Undersecretary Rosemarie Edillon assured the public the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. was taking measures to cushion the possible negative impact of the dry spell.
Edillon said the effects of the long-dry spell this year, particularly on inflation, was not expected to be significant. She said the brunt of the phenomenon was expected to occur in the beginning of 2024.
“Iyong brunt talaga ng El Niño, we expect it to happen by beginning of next year of 2024 kaya lang iyong preparasyon para doon kailangan ngayon nagsisimula na,” she said.
Edillon said the planting season had already concluded, eliminating the need for irrigation water at this point.
Edillon insisted there would be no significant impact of El Nino on the economy and inflation if the appropriate and timely preparations and contingency measures were in place.