Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 21) — The Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) assured local government units that there will be no water shortages this summer as they have prepared for the impact of El Niño.
According to MWSS Water and Sewerage Management Department Manager Patrick Dizon, the agency was instructed to implement mitigation measures last year.
“We are presenting po kasi sa LGUs (local government units) na ‘di naman tayo magkakaroon ng water shortage this summer kasi we are already prepared naman po kasi last year pa ‘to in-instruct ng presidente na magkaroon kami ng mitigating measures this summer,” Dizon said.
[Translation: We are presenting to the LGUs that we will not have a water shortage this summer because we are already prepared as last year the president instructed us to have mitigating measures for this summer.]
The assurance comes after the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) announced “looming water supply interruptions” after its meeting with water firms and the Liga ng mga Barangay.
Last year, the MWSS requested the National Water Resources Board to increase the Angat Dam’s water elevation from 212 to 214 meters.
According to Dizon, the additional two meters would provide an extra buffer room in the reservoir and ensure sufficient water supply during the summer.
“Luckily, we [got] the approval, at na-maintain naman po natin ‘yung 214 nung [and we were able to maintain the 214 in] December 2023,” Dizon said.
“On trend po ito for the historical level. Talagang pagdating ng January hanggang March hanggang June actually, pababa po talaga ‘yung ating reservoir. Kaya ngayon, since we have 214 (meters) nung first week of January or end of December, we are sufficient. We are confident naman po na malalagpasan po natin ‘yung El Niño this summer,” the manager said, referring to Angat Dam’s water level.
[Translation: The level is on trend historically. Actually, from January to March, even until June actually, our reservoir really goes down. So now, since we have 214 meters in the first week of January or the end of December, we are sufficient. We are confident that we will overcome El Niño this summer.]
Water concessionaires are now allowed to conduct emergency leak repairs even without securing various permits from local government units as reiterated by a DILG memorandum in 2023.
Dizon added that the DILG has instructed LGUs to encourage their constituents to save water.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration expects the “strong” El Niño to be felt until February.
