The National Water Resources Board (NWRB) is urging the public to conserve water and be mindful of consumption as the country prepares for possible effects of a super El Niño.
NWRB Executive Director Dr. Sevillo David Jr. told ABS-CBN News that contingency measures are in place but it needs the help of the general public.
“Ang gusto sana natin eh…sa publiko, malaki ang maitutulong nila sa contingency measures…yung tamang paggamit, pagtitipid - hangga’t maari mag-recycle or bawasan yung mga non-essential na paggamit ng tubig. Tayo, gusto nating i-manage yung kasalukuyang supply sa mga dams natin pero malaking bagay kung magtitipid yung kababayan natin,” David Jr. said.
“Any volume na matitipid nila ay makakatulong sa karagdagang supply sa mga susunod na buwan hanggang sa susunod na taon,” he added.
According to David, water concessionaires were also advised to make sure that their pipelines are properly managed to avoid leakage and water wastage.
David said part of contingency measures before the super El Niño hits the country is proper water management that includes irrigation and domestic water consumption.
”Nag-decide po ang NWRB na babaan yung alokasyon ng water supply ng irigasyon na kumpara natin dun sa regular allocation….sa parte ng water supply ay binabaan natin yan sa 44 cubic meters per second…mas mababa yan don sa regular na nakukuha nilang dati na 50 to 52 cubic meters per second. Sa irigasyon nagkaroon din ng adjustment, sa ngayon ay nasa 20 cubic meters per second po ang alokasyon para sa buwan ng October, mababa po yan sa around 35 cubic meters per second na regular na alokasyon nila,” he said.
Meanwhile, DOST-PAGASA hydrologist Ailene Abelardo said the water level in major dams in the country remains normal.
But she said based on the DOST-PAGASA Climatology Division forecast rainfall, there is a slight decrease already in water level in some dams in the country such as in Pantabangan dam in Nueva Ecija.
“Base sa forecast rainfall ng climatology division ng PAGASA, for the month of October po, meron na pong kabawasan bahagya doon sa mga pag-ulan na mare-receive po or mararanasan ng mga dams natin sa Luzon kumpara sa normal. Posible ding mag-start ngayong Oktubre ang minimal na pagbabawas ng lebel ng tubig at sa mga susunod pa pong buwan…mas mababa ba kumpara sa normal,” Abelardo said.
Meantime, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has identified several barangays in the regions that are already affected by El Niño including those in Ilocos Norte, Oriental Mindoro, Cagayan, Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya, Albay, Catanduanes, Cebu, and Leyte among others.
Dumlao said the agency has distributed 43,504 family food packs and 3, 660 water containers to affected families.
“Makakatiyak tayo na merong supply, because it is provided by another government agency…, just in case magkaroon ng kakulangan…mag-i-issue lang ng certification ang NFA and then we could do commercial procurement. We believe, we have sufficient supply,” Dumlao told reporters.
According to Dumlao, the DSWD still has more than P1.4 billion standby funds and 3.8 million family food packs nationwide.
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