LWUA: Sufficient water supply outside NCR

By Charles Dantes

THE Local Water Utilities Administration said it is ready for the start of El Niño and the possible water shortage across the country.

In an exclusive interview with Manila Standard, LWUA Administrator Vicente Revil shared that the water supply outside Metro Manila remained sufficient.

“For now, we have enough supply due to Agua de Mayo starting early this year, but then, we still have to prepare for El Niño,” Revil said.

He added that to mitigate the possible effects of El Niño, LWUA ordered all water districts outside Metro Manila to follow Memo Circular No. 002.23 which was released last April 11.

In the memorandum, LWUA said water districts must conduct water supply inventory and management, check water quality, follow standard proce - dures and policies, and conduct communication and information drives in their areas.

The circular also enjoined all water districts to submit their respective El Niño 2023 action plan by May 15, as of the moment, various water districts have complied and LWUA is now compiling and validating the submitted data for monitoring purposes.

When asked about the possible hot spots where possible water shortages would hit, Revil said LWUA is monitoring Mindanao and Visayas.

“We are looking at the side of Mindanao and parts of Visayas or lower parts of the Philippines, but I think it would be the whole country.

That is why I think it is important to conduct water inventory,” Revil said.

In the latest weather projection of PAGASA, El Niño may start around June, July, or August and may persist until the first quarter of 2024.