El Niño spells more losses for rice farmers

MANILA, Philippines - Rice farmers whose fields are serviced by the Angat Dam are seen to sustain P3.82 billion worth of production losses in the succeeding quarters as a result of the prevailing dry spell that is expected to peak in the last quarter of the year, the National Irrigation Administration (NIA), said.

Despite the occurrence of rains, the National Water Resources Board (NWRB) is keeping a reduced water allocation for Metro Manila and zero water allocation for irrigation to surrounding provinces until the water level in the reservoir reaches a secure level for irrigation, municipal and power needs.

NIA spokeswoman Filipina Bermudez said in areas serviced by Angat-Maasin River Irrigation System (AMRIS) – including Bulacan and Pampanga –  farmers would be foregoing a harvest of 225,000 metric tons (MT) in the succeeding quarters. This covers 49, 750 hectares.

Farmers, she said, are still able to plant as monsoon rains provide water to fields.

The reduced water allocation from Angat Dam for municipal use, however, is not likely to lead to water scarcity in Metro Manila, said NWRB executive director Sevillo David Jr.

He said an allocation of 41 cubic meters per second would continue to be imposed until the end of the month, at least, when the board makes an assessment about the impact of the El Nino phenomenon on water supply in Metro Manila.

The board also is also keeping a zero allocation for irrigation until then.

“This water supply level that we are using can be managed until summer next year. But we need to supply water for irrigation so we are monitoring this,” he said.

The NWRB slashed in June the water allocation for metro water concessionaires-Manila Water Co. (East Zone) and Maynilad Water Services (West Zone) – to the prevailing 41 cms from 43 cms in May after the water level in the Angat Dam fell below the critical level.

Protocol dictates that once the water supply in the dam – where Metro Manila obtains 90 percent of its water supply – falls below the critical level, supply to irrigation is immediately cut followed by supply for power if the water level continues to fall.

Pagasa senior weather specialist Anthony Lucero said the rains experienced in Metro Manila may only last until September before a “stronger El Nino” is felt in the last three months of the year.

The effects of the stronger El Nino, he said, may be felt until summer of next year.

The water level in the Angat Dam is now placed around 180 meters. This is still 29.27 meters short of the normal water level of 210 meters. A water level below 180 meters is considered critical.

Under normal dam level conditions, NWRB’s allocation for agriculture ranges from 20 cms to 30 cms.

“For now, we are still not within the comfortable level. We are reviewing the allocation for irrigation but for now, farmers still gain from the rains,” said David. “By the end of August, we think we can decide on what the allocation for the rest of the year will be.”

The provinces of Bulacan and Pampanga depend mainly on rainwater for their agricultural lands but would need an irrigation allocation once the monsoon rains stop.

David said the metro water concessionaires have committed to implement measures to manage the reduced water resource. The National Irrigation Administration (NIA), he said, has also come up with a contingency plan.

“The concessionaires are ensuring that their facilities are in good operating condition to avoid downtime. More water reservoirs have also been constructed particularly in elevated areas. Standby facilities for supply augmentation such as deep wells are also being prepared and will be operated when needed,” said David.