CONSERVE WATER. Presidential Communications Office Assistant Secretary and Task Force El Niño spokesperson Joey Villarama urges the public to conserve water despite the peak of El Niño during an interview at the Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon briefing on Monday (April 1, 2024). Villarama said water demand is increasing amid the hot and dry season but dams are drying up. (Screengrab)
MANILA – The Task Force El Niño on Monday echoed calls to conserve water and energy consumption amid the peak impact of the El Niño phenomenon.
"Ang hinihiling po ay huwag po iyong walang pakundangan, iyong limitless iyong paggamit po ng electricity at iyong ating [water] resources (What we are asking is to avoid careless, limitless use of electricity and water resources)," Presidential Communications Office Assistant Secretary and Task Force El Niño spokesperson Joey Villarama said during the Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon briefing.
Villarama said the government is closely monitoring the effects of El Niño, considering the increasing water demand, but ensured that contingency measures are in place.
"Hindi po mawawala iyong posibilidad na hihina po ang water pressure o magkukulang po ang supply ng tubig, dahil po patuloy na bumababa ang level ng dam, particularly ng Angat dam (The possibility of weaker water pressure or water supply shortage is still there, because the water level of dam, particularly the Angat dam is declining)," he added.
In Metro Manila and Rizal, there are 137 deep wells alongside other treatment plants that may serve as alternative sources of water.
Of the total, 69 are on standby and 10 are already operational for the water concessionaires Maynilad and Manila Water, Villarama said.
The National Water Resources Board has also released advisories for water conservation to public pools in subdivisions, condominiums, and other household settings.
The government is working on the construction and improvement of several multi-purpose dams as part of the long-term plans for water supply and flood management.
To date, there are 80 provinces affected by the El Niño, with 16 under a state of calamity.
In January, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. signed Executive Order (EO) 53 to streamline, reactivate, and reconstitute the old El Niño task forces under EO No. 16 (s. 2001) and Memorandum Order No. 38 (s. 2019).
Under the EO, the President instructed the task force to secure a comprehensive disaster preparedness and rehabilitation plan and ensure “systematic, holistic, and results-driven interventions” to aid the Filipinos and alleviate the devastating effects of disasters. (PNA)
