Metro Manila mayors have proposed the installation of a rain catchment system in anticipation of possible water shortages in the National Capital Region.
Members of the Metro Manila Council (MMC) made the proposal Wednesday after its meeting with the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority.
According to MMC president and San Juan City Mayor Francis Zamora, the structures may be built at city and village halls and public schools, among others.
“The rainwater caught by our roofs and gutters will flow to drums so we can store and use them,” he said.
He added the MMDA can provide tanks for the catchment system.
MMDA acting chairman Romando Artes said his agency researched about modular rain catchment systems.
In July, the government floated an idea to regulate water usage in Metro Manila.
Zamora said local chief executives have the autonomy to decide on the matter, saying not all cities in Metro Manila have establishments that need large amounts of water.
The issue of water usage regulation surfaced following the appeal of Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) to business establishments and those consuming massive volumes of water tovconserve and limit their usage.
State weather bureau officials said earlier at least 30 provinces may experience a dry spell while at least two provinces may suffer from drought due to the El Niño phenomenon.
PAGASA climate monitoring chief Ana Solis said the possibility of El Niño is high.
She said rainfall is expected to decrease next month and may drop further from October to December this year.
Zamora urged fellow local officials to “conserve and recycle water as much as possible, and implement a rainwater catchment system to collect rainwater that could be used for other purposes.”
In May, the Metro Manila Disaster Risk Response and Management and Management Council and mayors in NCR have convened to discuss contingency measures in preparation for the looming water crisis and the El Niño phenomenon.
The 17 local governments also formed their respective task force to formulate preparations and contingency measures to mitigate the effects of El Niño in their respective cities.