THE Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) gathered together water concessionaires and community leaders to discuss strategies to prevent potential water shortages and supply interruptions due to the on-going El Niño phenomenon.
The country is currently experiencing a “strong” El Niño phenomenon that will continue until February, the state weather bureau said.
“We at the DILG are exerting all efforts to ensure that all sectors are on board and are cooperating,” said DILG Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr.
He added that continued coordination with everyone involved on the issue of water supply during the onslaught of El Niño is one of their priorities this year.
Representing the DILG in the meeting were Undersecretaries Odilon Pasaraba and Felicito Valmocina together with DILG National Capital Region Assistant Regional Director Ana Lyn Baltazar-Cortez.
They were joined by Liga ng Barangay presidents in the National Capital Region; and punong barangays from cities of Makati, Pasay, Parañaque, Manila, and Caloocan.
Also in attendance were representatives from Maynilad, Manila Water, Manila Water Sewerage System, and the weather bureau.
On the issue of prevention of system and commercial losses among water concessionaires, Pasaraba said that a unified ordinance related to barangay clearances to water concessionaires must be implemented following alleged delays in the approval of clearances.
Maynilad representative Jonna Reyes said that in the previous year, one of their challenges was the delay of the issuance of barangay clearances to implement pipe replacement and active leakage program.
Meanwhile, Valmocina underscored the critical importance of addressing the concerns of the water concessionaires.
He noted that communication, coordination, cooperation, and commitment must be exercised for them to implement all programs and projects designed to stave off the effects of El Nino.
According to PAGASA, a strong El Niño is expected to continue until January 2024 while the majority of global climate models suggest that El Niño will likely persist until the March-May 2024 season.
PAGASA said the El Niño phenomenon may be felt until May before transitioning to El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO)-neutral until June.
ENSO is defined by thw US National Weather Service as a “recurring climate pattern involving changes in the temperature of waters in the central and eastern tropical Pacific Ocean.”
“Majority of global climate models suggest that El Niño will likely persist until the March-April-May 2024 season with a transition to ENSO-neutral in the April-May-June 2024 season,” PAGASA said.
“All government agencies and the general public are encouraged to take precautionary measures to mitigate the adverse impacts of the said climate phenomenon,” it added.
Last week, the state weather bureau said it expects fewer than the average number of typhoons this year as the effects of El Niño drag on.
PAGASA climate monitoring chief Ana Liza Solis said 13 to 19 typhoons could enter the country in 2024, lower than the usual 19 to 20.
“There is also a possibility that over the dry months in March, April, and May, it could be one of our warmest years on record. Historically, we see some of our hottest temperatures during El Niño years,” she
said.