LWUA preparing for 'worst-case scenario' for El Niño

The Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA) on Tuesday said that the Philippines currently has sufficient water supply but is already preparing fro the "worst-case scenario" amid the threat of the El Niño phenomenon.

“Maasahan niyo po na may sapat pa naman tayong supply ng tubig sa ating bansa. We are just preparing for the worst-case scenario that can happen, but for now, meron pa po tayong tubig sa ating bansa,” said LWUA Administrator Vicente Homer Revil.

(You can expect that our country still has a sufficient water supply. We are just preparing for the worst-case scenario that can happen, but for now, we still have water in our country.)

Among the measures being undertaken by the LWUA is an information campaign, which Revil said is being backed by local government units, stakeholders, and local communities.

Revil said LWUA has also mandated the water districts to have a water supply inventory.

"Kasama din dito ang pagsasayang ng tubig, it should be less than 20% kumabaga yung nagkakaroon ng mga leaks, we call it revenue waters, ay dapat no more than 20%," said Revil. 

(It also includes the wastage of water; it should be less than 20%, like those that have leaks; we call it revenue waters, and it should be no more than 20%.)

"Ang direktiba natin na magkaroon ng 10% reservation measures sa paggamit ng tubig,” he added.

(Our directive is to have 10% reservation measures in water usage.)

The LWUA is also looking at possible ways to boost the country's current water supply. 

“Marami raw isla ang nagkakaroon ng problema dahil sa salination, o pumapasok ‘yung tubig dagat. Kaya kailangan meron tayong mga bagong technology para sa desalination projects,” he added.

(It is said that many islands are having problems due to salination. So, we need new technologies for desalination projects.)

In addition, LWUA is also closely monitoring areas where getting clean water is quite a challenge. 

“We have about a few more million of Filipinos who are challenged in water supply. Marami pa pong mga kababayan na nandoon sa mga bundok o malapit sa dagat na mahirap ang source of water na nag-iigib pa rin," he added.

(Many are still in the mountains or near the sea where the water source is poor, and they still have to fetch water.)

LWUA said they will connect them to neighboring municipalities and cities to help in boosting supply. —Sherylin Untalan/ VAL, GMA Integrated News