Water rationing looms in Zambo due to strong El Niño

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines - The water utility provider here has braced for the worst effects of the El Niño phenomenon in this southern part of Western Mindanao as an hour-long water rationing will be imposed within the week, according to official.

The Zamboanga City Water District (ZCWD) would implement a 12-hour water rationing as a result of the dry spell affecting thousands of residents in the central part of the city.

Leonardo Rey Vasquez, ZCWD general manager, said water rationing this year will be the longest compared to the El Niño phenomenon in 1997 and 1998.

“This El Niño will be the worst ever compared to the '90s because as projected since last November, we will be imposing 12 hours of water rationing,” Vazquez said, making an appeal to the public to conserve water.

The water utility provider would also recommend to the local disaster risk reduction and management office to declare a state of calamity so the agency could prepare and implement measures to mitigate the effects of El Niño.

Maribel Enriquez, chief meteorologist of Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), said the region would experience a strong El Niño within the first quarter of this year.

Farmers have been advised to plant crops which could withstand severe weather or suitable to dry season.