A barangay public safety officer checks leaks on pipes and water meters in Philcoa, Quezon City on Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2019. (File photo by GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE / Philippine Daily Inquirer)
MANILA, Philippines 鈥� Metro Manila鈥檚 water service providers should brace for the worst effects of the El Ni帽o phenomenon and avert a repeat of the 2019 crisis.
Quezon City Rep. Marvin Rillo on Sunday called on Maynilad Water Services Inc. and Manila Water Co. to prepare for El Ni帽o, which could potentially put Metro Manila and neighboring provinces at risk of a severe water shortage.
鈥淲e do not want a repeat of the 2019 water crisis, so we would urge the two water concessionaires to prepare this early for the worst, should we have a full-scale El Ni帽o event in the months ahead,鈥� said Rillo, vice chairperson of the House committee on Metro Manila development.
鈥淥ur worry is that even if the forthcoming El Ni帽o would be less harsh than what we experienced in 2019, Metro Manila might still be vulnerable to a severe water scarcity simply because demand has since increased,鈥� he said.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services had said that El Ni帽o would 鈥渓ikely develop in the July-August-September season and may persist until 2024.鈥�
The 2019 El Ni帽o phenomenon caused Angat Dam鈥檚 water level to plunge to record lows, causing a water shortage in Metro Manila and nearby provinces. Up to 61 percent of the country suffered a drought where there were three consecutive months of over 60 percent less rainfall.
While Angat supplies 90 percent of Metro Manila鈥檚 potable water and irrigates 25,000 hectares of farmland in Central Luzon, its water level dropped this month to 201 meters from 214 meters in December 2022.