NWRB hints at further water allocation cut

MANILA, Philippines — The National Water Resources Board needs to reexamine the allocation of 50 cubic meters per second granted to Maynilad Water Services Inc. and Manila Water for the whole month of July after state weather experts declared the start of the El Niño weather phenomenon, NWRB executive director Sevillo David Jr. said yesterday.

“This (cut in water allocation) is one of our possible interventions to address the current water supply. We need to adjust our current water allocation,” he said.

David added that the 50-CMS allocation for the two water concessionaires may be decreased further to 48 CMS within this month, adding the NWRB may issue another ruling on or before July 15.

“At present, the current water level of Angat Dam is at 181.2 meters. This is lower compared to its minimum operating level. Once it reaches 180 meters, we will give priority to the water supply for Metro Manila as we need to manage,” he said.

On July 1, the NWRB implemented a two-CMS cut in the water allocation for Maynilad and Manila Water.

The 52 CMS allocation ended on June 30 after the NWRB implemented it on April 15.

Angat Dam supplies more than 90 percent of Metro Manila’s potable water needs and provides for the irrigation needs of 25,000 hectares of farmlands in Bulacan and Pampanga.

David noted that based on the projection of the state weather experts, “we expect below-normal rains. The effects of these will be the failure of our dams to recover.”