Brace for more water shortages — Esperon

MANILA, Philippines — Until the government and private concessionaires are able to work on long-term programs to develop other sources of water supply for Metro Manila, National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr. said the public would have to continue to experience water shortages in the metropolis.

“Until that time that we won’t be able to develop other resources, then we have the possibility of water shortages every now and then. So, there are short-range programs, there are long-term programs,” Esperon said at a press briefing at Malacañang yesterday.

President Duterte is angry that yet another looming water shortage in Metro Manila and nearby provinces is expected to affect millions of customers.

Sen. Christopher Go warned concessionaires not to pass the burden on to their customers, including costs that they should shoulder.

He said Duterte was enraged over recent developments, including the threat of the Ayala-owned Manila Water to raise its rates by 780 percent.

The senator said there was water flowing in taps in Metro Manila areas where a water shortage was expected. He also called on water suppliers not to pass the burden on to the people and to resolve issues as indicated in their contracts. 

“Don’t pass the burden on our people. You got into that business, so that is your responsibility. Don’t sign contracts (concession agreements) if you can’t comply with supplying water,” Go said.

West zone concessionaire Maynilad said the water service interruptions are due to the low levels of water sources Angat Dam and Ipo Dam. East zone concessionaire Manila Water, meanwhile, said its implementation of water interruption was due to Angat’s projected decrease of water level in the next months.

Go said that he would ask the President to review the contracts of the two concessionaires to check if their provisions are beneficial to the people.

“Once you enter into these contracts, you must commit to the supply of water, including shouldering the penalties,” he said.

Esperon noted that the water generated from Angat Dam is not enough to supply about 9.5 million consumers within the east zone under Manila Water and the west zone under Maynilad. 

He also noted that Angat Dam also supplies water to parts of Bulacan and Pampanga.

“We have a ceiling or limit of what we could get from Angat, Angat River, Angat Dam. Part of it goes to irrigation to the Bulacan and Pampanga provinces. Part of it is for bulk water, that’s for San Miguel Corp. going to Bulacan or other areas,” he said. 

There is currently water rationing in Metro Manila since Angat Dam’s water level is at manageable level, reports said, quoting Maynilad.

Esperon also attributed the shortage to concerned agencies not having fully developed production from Laguna Lake, which can generate 100 million liters a day.

The Cabinet had earlier discussed the need to “further harness these sources from Laguna Lake and look at other sources like Kaliwa or Wawa dam.” 

“The most immediate that we could get from would be of course from Laguna Lake, but it turns out that Laguna Lake costs so much more to purify, because of the character and quality of water there,” he said.

Rate hike slammed

Last week, senators slammed the plan of Manila Water to increase its rates by 780 percent.

Sens. Sherwin Gatchalian and Aquilino Pimentel III, in separate statements, strongly opposed the plan of the east zone concessionaire to raise rates if the Supreme Court does not reverse its ruling imposing a P921-million fine for not complying with the Clean Water Act.

“Increasing rates by 780 percent is unconscionable and downright a highway robbery. No business in the world earns 780 percent in profit! Government regulators should never allow this inhumane increase,” Gatchalian said in a statement.

He asked why Manila Water is passing on to its consumers the penalty the government imposed on them for water shortages since it was not the consumers who have been remiss in their obligations and violated the law.

Pimentel, meanwhile, said passing on fines to consumers was not only unfair “but also utterly baseless.”

Race to the last drop

Citizens of Barangay Moonwalk in Parañaque said that because of the water interruptions, they are rushing their chores before water supply runs out.

“We make sure that the laundry is done, the house is clean, (we) cook earlier than usual (and) all the containers are all filled up with water. Before 11, all of those should be done,” Barangay Moonwalk’s Cris Macasiray told The STAR.

She said their water is usually interrupted at about noon until two in the morning. She said the water interruption is hard, especially since her family of seven has to manage the water they collect for the day.

“It is a hassle because we really have to manage the water. The four five-gallon containers we filled up, along with two pails, sometimes aren’t enough,” Macasiray said in Filipino. 

Milagros Sumawang, 19, of Muntinlupa told The STAR that citizens had to wake up before dawn to fill containers and save up water.

Water interruptions also reportedly prompted business establishments in Pasay City to close down yesterday.

Multisectoral solutions

As the implementation of water interruptions began, the Quezon City local government said it would implement a multi-sectoral approach on responsible water use. 

Mayor Joy Belmonte yesterday presented the proposed multi-sectoral approach to introduce responsible use and conservation of water resources among different stakeholders, which included the city government’s plan to mandate water conservation measures in all city-owned and operated facilities to reduce consumption. 

Barangays will also be tasked to inspect and monitor their respective jurisdictions for possible leaks and illegal connections. 

If necessary, the city government said it would also tap the fire department and barangays with existing water tankers to augment the water concessionaires in rationing to consumers. 

The local government will also look at the possibility of using treated wastewater instead of regular tap water for watering plants. 

Meanwhile, various initiatives will also be implemented to promote conservation and responsible water use among households and commercial establishments. 

In the cities of Manila, Caloocan, Malabon and Navotas, the local governments have assured citizens of their readiness to assist residents that will be affected by the rotational water interruption. ?The cities’ Disaster Risk Reduction and Management officers yesterday said they are keeping constant communication with Maynilad to determine the potential sources of water from fire hydrants in case water shortage worsens in their areas.

Navotas is seen to take the worst hit because it is at the end of the supply line and beside Manila Bay, but the city remains ready with 30 firetrucks and tankers thanks to their fire volunteers.