MANILA, Philippines — Interior and Local Government Secretary Benhur Abalos has directed all governors, mayors, barangays, including the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao and regional directors to prepare for El Niño to mitigate its impact in their respective areas.
The DILG heads the new El Niño Team created by President Marcos.
Abalos over the weekend signed department Memorandum Circular 2023-065 mandating local government units (LGUs) to prepare for the potential adverse effects of El Niño in the country.
He underscored the need for LGUs to pass ordinances in their respective areas to curb illegal connections and encourage the prudent use of water.
According to Abalos, LGUs should implement and update the existing contingency plans related to the El Niño phenomenon.
“Save vulnerable areas through appropriate water management and other related interventions, by conducting cloud seeding operations, shifting to other crops, provision of pumps and engine sets, fuel subsidy, provision of short gestation, drought-tolerant seed varieties, planting materials, fertilizers, soil ameliorants, flower inducers, mulching film, pesticides, herbicides, drugs and biologics,” he said in his memorandum order.
Abalos said that water concessionaires and utilities should be allowed to conduct emergency repair of leaks, even without a prior necessary excavation permit, provided they eventually secure the authorization.
He also tasked the Bureau of Fire Protection to refrain from unnecessarily drawing water from fire hydrants.
Earlier, Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System Deputy Administrator Jose Dorado Jr. urged Metro Manila mayors to pass ordinances to regulate the use of golf courses, car wash and swimming pools to address dwindling water from the Angat Dam.
Dorado noted that at present, there are at least 10 golf courses running in Metro Manila. He said golf courses consume at least 700 cubic meters to 1,400 cubic meters per month.
Dorado added that there are at least 1,000 car washes operating in the National Capital Region, consuming 60 cubic meters to 100 cubic meters per month which can supply water to 2,000 households.
A ranking official of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) warned that Mindanao will be severely affected by the looming El Niño phenomenon – with at least a 35 percent reduction in rainwater brought by a lack of typhoons – followed by Visayas and Luzon.
During a forum over the weekend, PAGASA climate monitoring and predictions section chief Analisa Solis reiterated the state bureau’s forecast that the El Niño phenomenon could start in the next two to three months.