MANILA – The National Water Resources Board (NWRB) on Thursday urged the public to help the government mitigate the impact of the looming El Niño phenomenon by conserving water.
“Habang tayo po sa pamahalaan ay ginagawa po natin kung papaano mabigyan ng seguridad iyong tubig na pangangailangan po ng mga kababayan po natin, mas maganda po na tumulong din po ang publiko at mga kababayan po natin sa pamamagitan po ng tamang paggamit po ng tubig (While we in the government are trying to secure the water that we need, it is better for the public to help through proper use of water),” said NWRB executive director Sevillo David Jr. during the Laging Handa media forum.
He said President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has already made a directive to intensify water conservation measures “so that we can prepare for the possible effect of El Niño.”
He said all government agencies under the El Niño Team created by President Marcos are now discussing the possible mitigating measures or contingency plans to lessen the impact of the El Niño phenomenon.
David said the reactivation of deep wells and the water treatment facilities are now in place.
He said the water allocation for irrigation from Angat Dam has been reduced to maintain stable water supply for 2,000 hectares of agricultural lands, particularly in the provinces of Bulacan and Pampanga.
The Angat Dam’s water level remains at “normal operation level” of 194.4 meters, he said.
“At ang siste po ngayon, dahil may pangamba po ng El Niño ay kailangan talaga din po nating paghandaan (But because of the threat of El Niño, we really have to prepare),” he said.