‘Philippines more prepared for El Niño than in 2019’

MANILA, Philippines — National Water Resources Board (NWRB) executive director Sevillo David Jr. yesterday assured the public that the country is now more prepared for the possible impact of the El Niño phenomenon compared with 2019 during the drought that led to a water crisis.

In a radio interview, David emphasized that the government learned from that year’s El Niño episode, where Angat Dam reached its lowest level of 116 meters in June.

“We are now more prepared. There were developments that were not present in 2019. These are the treatment facilities at Laguna Lake and deep wells,” he said, referring to the Cardona Treatment Plant and Putatan Water Treatment.

He added that the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) has already prepared a contingency plan to minimize the effect of the drought on the irrigation system.

“The NIA has prepared mitigating measures to help the farmers, in case the threat of El Niño will persist,” David said.

At the same time, the NWRD chief noted that the water level at Angat Dam continues to drop amid the dry season.

“In the last few days, the level of Angat has fallen. We can say this is normal during summer, amid the high temperature and lack of rains,” he said.

Based on monitoring of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), the water level at Angat Dam was at 199.37 meters as of 6 a.m. yesterday, compared to the 199.76 meters last Sunday, or a drop of 0.39 meters.

“With the present level, we can say that the level of Angat is still normal or within operating level (and) is still enough to supply the needs of consumers this summer,” David said.

He added that evaporation and lack of rain contribute to the reduction in the water level at Angat Dam.

“If we have high temperatures, more water evaporates at the reservoir, causing the reduction in the level of Angat Dam,” he said.

David gave assurance that aside from the NWRB, concerned government agencies, including the NIA and the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System, regularly hold coordination meetings in preparation for the El Niño phenomenon.

PAGASA has said the country would experience El Niño starting this June or July.

Aside from Angat Dam, the water levels at five other dams have also dropped. As of 6 a.m. yesterday, Binga Dam was at 569.57 meters, compared with the previous level of 569.72 meters, or 0.15 meters less; San Roque Dam, 238.16 meters, from its previous level of 238.43 meters, or 0.27 meters less; Pantabangan Dam, 181.58 meters, from its previous level of 181.81 meters, or 0.23 meters less and Magat Dam, 174.84 meters, from its previous level of 174.96 meters, or 0.12 meters less. – Paolo Romero