DENR: Philippines has enough water to last 2020

MANILA, Philippines — The country is expected to have enough water supply this summer and the rest of the year, the environment department said.

Presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo said Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu discussed the water supply outlook and action plan during a Cabinet meeting last Monday at Malacañang.

Cimatu also talked about his recent inspection of Angat Dam, which supplies more than 97 percent of the total water requirement of Metro Manila.

“Secretary Roy... assured the President that we will have enough water for the year,” Panelo said at a press briefing yesterday.

President Duterte’s spokesman said agencies are also preparing to ensure that there would be adequate water supply in the next years.

Last year, Panelo said Duterte was supportive of the proposal to create a separate department for water-related concerns, saying it could prevent a repeat of the water service interruptions in Metro Manila and parts of Rizal.

The water shortage experienced in March 2019 prompted the President to scold water officials and to threaten to terminate the concession contracts of the two Metro Manila water distributors.

The establishment of a water agency is one of the proposals in a road map that aims to address the effects of water shortage.

The road map will include immediate, medium and long-term interventions like making an intensive campaign for the conservation of water and energy, creating a Department of Water and a Department of Disaster Resilience.

Other measures in the proposed road map are the dredging of waterways, replacing tunnels and aqueducts, installing water tank systems in all hospitals under the health department and providing funding for the establishment of water treatment plants.