JAEN, Nueva Ecija, Philippines – The Pantabangan Dam is expected to reduce to 40 percent its water supply for Central Luzon farms due to the El Niño phenomenon.
Nueva Ecija Gov. Aurelio Umali told farmers that only 44,000 hectares of the more than 100,000 hectares of agricultural lands in the province, Pampanga and Bulacan, would be able to receive water.
Umali said this projection was made following dialogue with officials of the Upper Pampanga River Integrated Irrigation Systems (UPRIIS), the operator of the Pantabangan Dam.
“This is a big blow to farmers so we have to prepare them for this worse-case scenario,” he said.
The governor said the provincial government will hold a water summit next week to prepare farmers against the effects of the El Niño.
He said if this is not addressed, this will affect food security targets on a nationwide scale.
Umali said he has used his intelligence funds for the de-silting of the Peñaranda River to ensure a smooth delivery of water as the province braces for El Niño.
In July, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) advised Filipinos to prepare for below normal rainfall in the last quarter of the year.
Pagasa administrator Vicente Malano said below normal rainfall is likely in most areas of Luzon and the Visayas while near normal rainfall conditions are expected over Cagayan, Camarines Norte, Albay, Eastern and Central Visayas and most areas of Mindanao in the months of October, November and December.
Umali said the province will have to prepare particularly because the water level in the Pantabangan Dam continues to drop.
Yesterday, the water level at the dam was at 186.2 meters above sea level, according to UPRIIS operations manager Reynaldo Puno.
The provincial government is also looking at tapping other sources to lessen the province’s dependence on the Pantabangan Dam.