Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 29) — Around 632,000 households in Metro Manila may have to bear with water service interruptions with the lower allocation beginning July.
The National Water Resources Board has approved a lower allocation of 50 cubic meters per second (cms) for July from 52 cms as Angat Dam’s water level drops.
The regulator was supposed to reduce the allocation mid-June to conserve water due to the looming El Niño, but deferred upon the request of the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS).
Gusto natin yung mga kababayan natin dito sa Metro Manila, patuloy na magkaroon ng magandang supply ng tubig at maiwasan po sana ‘yung interruptions habang sinasaayos pa rin ng MWSS yung mga sistema ng kanilang tubig,” NWRB Executive Director Bill David said.[Translation: We want Metro Manila residents to continue having a good supply of water and to avoid interruptions while the MWSS is fixing its water systems.]Meanwhile, the MWSS expressed hope that the rains would help raise the Angat Dam water level as the state weather bureau forecast up to four tropical cyclones next month.
“By July and August, yan po yung times based sa historical record na malakas yung ulan sa watershed natin,” MWSS Division Manager Patrick Dizon said.
[Translation: By July and August, those are the times based on historical record that rain is heavy in our watershed.]The NRWB said the expected rains may also help in the secondary water reserves of MWSS, including the Iso and La Mesa dams.The board also approved an allocation of 28.5 cms for irrigation systems in Bulacan and Pampanga – lower than the 40 cms in June – as the NWRB anticipates lower demand from farmers next month.
