Rep. Joey Sarte Salceda, chair of the House of Representatives Committee on Ways and Means on Thursday appealed to Presidential candidates to “have a plan for water regulation and maximizing our water resources” as a shortfall in water supply appears imminent across Mega Manila during the upcoming summer months.
Salceda released the statement in response to a recent warning from the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) that the Angat Dam, Metro Manila’s main water source, could be 40 meters below its normal water elevation by the end of April.
“That’s very similar to where we were during our water shortages in 2019. And, in my view, and given my discussions with water experts during the technical working group sessions on the Department of Water Resources, I am convinced that annual water shortfalls in Metro Manila will be the new normal unless we do something. It will also be the new normal in emerging cities within a decade,” Salceda warned.
“So, the next President will really have to commit to a national policy on conserving water resources. That includes a framework for regulating water use, proper management and recycling of sewage, a plan for irrigation, and exploring new sources and technologies for water supply.”
Salceda, who chaired the Technical Working Group that wrote the House proposal for a Department of Water Resources, also warned that climate change will exacerbate “reservoir or dam-based water sources.”
“They’re exposed to high levels of evaporation and depend almost entirely on adequate rainfall. With rising summer temperatures, dams and reservoirs become increasingly unreliable. There are technologies to manage evaporation, but we really have to explore other means,” Salceda added.
Salceda also asked the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) to ensure that “the utilities invest in adequate water conservation capex, so we reduce wastage and leakages.”
“Part of the price of their renewed legislative franchises has to be that Manila Water and Maynilad invest in capital expenditures to protect our water supply. Part of the MWSS’s mandate is to monitor these investments. We in Congress expect that the terms of the franchise will be met,” Salceda said.
Salceda recalled that the franchise holders are responsible for promoting “conservation and avoid water wastage.”
Section 4 of Republic Acts 11600 and 11601 mandate that “With the approval of the Regulatory Office and considering cost efficiencies, the grantee shall establish water impounding facilities, consider and undertake the recovery and appropriate reuse of wastewater, grey water, industrial water, and reclaimed water. The grantee may adopt waste-to-energy or similar technology utilizing sludge waste from its wastewater facilities to promote energy efficiency in its operations.”
“Part of their obligation to the state, part of the price of the franchise, is that the utilities make sure we can avoid as much wastage as possible so that we can manage summer months. Of course consumers have a responsibility to save water, but the systemic obligation is on the utilities,” Salceda added.
Salceda says he will formally request the MWSS and the water utilities to apprise him of their strategies to comply with this mandate. Maricel V. Cruz