Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 22) — The public should prepare early for the looming El Niño by already saving water, the National Water Regulatory Board (NWRB) said Saturday.
\”Ang publiko ay malaki ang maitutulong dito sa pamamagitan ng tamang paggamit ng tubig, water conservation, at energy conservation,\” NWRB Executive Director Sevillo David Jr. told a forum.
\”Habang wala pa po ‘yong El Niño, mas maganda na tingnan natin kung paano tayo makakatulong para kung andun na yong kasagsagan ng El Niño, handa tayo,\” he added.
[Translation: The public can greatly help in the preparations through correct usage of water, water conservation, and energy conservation. While El Niño is not yet here, it’s also good to look at how the public can help so we can be ready during the phenomenon.]
On April 18, several government agencies met with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to craft the country’s response to El Niño.
The climate pattern increases the likelihood of below-normal rainfall that can cause dry spells in some parts of the country, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said.
The state weather bureau announced it may raise an \”El Niño alert\” by May.
Currently, David said the water level of Angat Dam—which provides water for Metro Manila residents and irrigation to nearby provinces—is at 196.5 meters or still within the normal operating water level, but it is \”better to prepare.\”
At the same forum, PAGASA noted that the country could experience an increase in rainfall as El Niño develops.
\”Una kapag developing pa lang siya, July, August, September, ang nangyayari ay instead na kakulangan, based on historical events ay nagkakaroon tayo ng increase sa ulan, above normal,\” said Marcelino Villafuerte II, PAGASA’s chief of Impact Assessment and Applications Section of the Climatology and Agrometeorology Division.
[Translation: While it is still developing in July to September, what happens is we will have an increase in rainfall that could be above normal instead of a shortage, based on historical events.]
\”And then tuloy pa natin siya December, January, February, March, April, do’n na natin nae-expect ‘yong impact nito na may kakulangan na tayo sa tubig dahil sa kakulangan sa ulan,\” he added.
[Translation: Then by December to April, that’s when we expect the impact of the water shortage because of less rain.]
While PAGASA expects a weak to moderate El Niño this year until next year, Villafuerte said the country still needs to prepare.
\”[M]ay past experiences tayo na nagkakaroon tayo ng kakulangan sa tubig kapag ka may El Niño event,\” he added.
