DENR issues water conservation advisory

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has issued a water conservation advisory amid the onset of El Niño this month.

In the advisory, the public was urged to practice responsible water use, fix leaks, reduce non?essential consumption and reuse water whenever possible.

“These actions are necessary to safeguard Metro Manila and adjacent provinces’ water supply and to ensure that limited resources are prioritized for domestic use,” the advisory read.

“Early action now will help protect our supply for drinking, health care and essential services while we manage the dry season responsibly and fairly,” it added.

The DENR will prioritize assistance to health facilities, low?income neighborhoods and vulnerable groups.

With the onset of El Niño, scientists expect the pattern synonymous with droughts, floods and soaring temperatures will intensify into the end of the year, potentially to historic strength. Scientists fear it will exacerbate the heat of a planet already warming from burning fossil fuels, while intensifying weather extremes.

“El Niño is here, and it could be one for the history books,” said meteorologist Haley Thiem in an explainer video from the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

The Philippines will experience more rains in the first months of El Niño, the state weather bureau earlier said.

Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration weather specialist John Manalo explained that during El Niño, the amount of rainfall is typically reduced while much higher temperatures are felt.