Iloilo City (CNN Philippines) — The threat of an extended period of El Niño can cause water shortage.
The Metro Iloilo Water District (MIWD), however, assured that there would be a sufficient water supply for the Iloilo Convention Center (ICC) during the Asia-Paific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meetings in September and October 2015.
Teodoro C. Robles, MIWD chairman, said test deliveries had been conducted on the pipeline of Iloilo Business Park (IBP), where the ICC is located, in preparation for the big event.
“Alternative solutions are also ready to make sure that water will be available to the delegates, like tankers which will inject water to ICC,” Robles added.
Robles also revealed inspectors had found some pipe leaks but they had already been fixed.
MIWD recently finished installation of transmission pipelines from the Diversion Road in Mandurriao to IBP as part of preparations for the APEC meetings.
The ICC will be inaugurated by President Benigno Aquino III on September 14 amid concerns that it lacks parking lots and audio-visual and lighting systems.
On the part of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), regional director Edilberto Tayao said facilities inside the ICC including security cameras, escalators, elevators, and air-conditioning system are now operating and can cater to the needs of the visitors.
Should the El Niño last until June 2016 as studies say, there would be a limited supply of water in the city and neighboring towns.
