July 20 ----- THE Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said on Wednesday that more typhoons that would dump a higher volume of rainfall are needed to bring back the water of Angat Dam to normal level.
The Angat Dam in Norzagaray, Bulacan, is the main source of potable water for Metro Manila and adjoining provinces. Pagasa hydrologist Elmer Caringal said that while the rains brought by Tropical Depression "Dodong" raised the water level at Angat by at least 3 meters, it was still not enough. Angat on July 19 registered a 0.27-meter increase in water level from the 180.67 meters recorded on July 18. The water level in other major dams like Ipo, La Mesa, Ambuklao, Binga and San Roque dipped slightly due to less rainfall in their watersheds, Caringal said.
He warned that because of the El Niño phenomenon, it is unlikely that Angat's water will return to its normal high level of 210 meters. "At least for now, it is slightly increasing, but 29.06 meters are too far for Angat Dam to reach given our current situation wherein we are expecting less typhoons and rainfall due to El Niño," Caringal said. With a low-pressure area off Surigao del Sur expected to escalate into a tropical depression in 24 to 48 hours, Caringal said they are hoping that more typhoons, "but not the destructive ones," will bring more rain. Another Pagasa hydrologist, Richard Orendain, said that there is no cause for alarm yet concerning water supply, as the recovery period of dams is expected in the coming months. "We just hope for weak typhoons that will dump rain, especially on our watersheds," Orendain said.
Pagasa advised consumers to use water wisely. It advised water concessionaires like Maynilad Water Services and Manila Water Co. to repair leaks. Pagasa said the effects of El Niño will likely be felt during the last months of the year until the first quarter of 2024, when dry spells and drought will be experienced in most parts of the country. Meanwhile, Agri party-list Rep. Wilbert Lee reiterated his call for the creation of a Department of Water Resources amid the threats of El Niño. "This is not the first or the last time we will deal with this critical problem, which is why we need a Department of Water Resources. We need an effective and sustainable water resources management program to address the impacts of El Niño. President Bongbong Marcos himself mentioned the measure in his SONA (State of the Nation Address) last year, and I think this should be pushed as much as possible when Congress opens on Monday," Lee said.
The creation of a Department of Water Resources was among the priority measures mentioned in Marcos' SONA in 2022. Earlier this year, the President ordered the creation of a Water Resources Management Office. On Aug. 1, 2022, Lee filed House Bill 2880 mandating the creation of the Department of Water Resources Management, whose aim is to promote universal access to safe, adequate, affordable and sustainable water supply, as well as irrigation, sewage and sanitation services.
The measure also seeks to promote the use of rainwater harvesting facilities to augment the country's water supply. The creation of the Department of Water Services and Resources was among the priority measures under committee/technical working group deliberation at the House of Representatives as of May 25, 2023. The 19th Congress, which is on sine die adjournment, will open its second regular session on Monday.
Source: manilatimes.net
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