The government is coming up with ways to store rainwater that could be used during the dry season as a way to manage water resources in the country.

In a statement, Malacañang said the move will be initiated through the National Water Resources Board (NWRB). "Sa ngayon po ang tinitingnan natin is kung papaano ito ma-divert sa mga facilities na kapag panahon naman ng tag-init ay mapakinabang po natin sa water supply, sa irrigation (For now, we are looking into ways on how to divert the facilities so we can use them to provide water supply and irrigation during dry season) ,” NWRB Executive Director Sevillo David Jr. said. David recognized that it would be of great help for the country if it could find ways to store rainwater that would be used during the dry season. He further said this would be crucial as they are expecting El Niño to hit the country until next year. "Ang El Niño Watch po kasi ay ini-issue kapag ini-expect natin within the next six months ay mataas ang probability na magkaroon ng El Niño, and sa kasalukuyan ganoon nga po ang kondisyon (El Niño Watch is being issued if we are expecting a high probability in the next six months and at that's the condition now) and actually we’re expecting that to continue next year, until next year, mid next year,” Marcelino Villafuerte, chief of the Climate Impact Assessment and Application of the Climatology and Agrometeorology Division, said. The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) issued an El Niño Watch last March 23. Villafuerte said this may be raised to an alert status in May.

Conserve water

David has also appealed to the public to conserve water amid the looming long El Niño phenomenon. “Mas gusto po nating i-advocate iyong tamang paggamit, water conservation po… Ang publiko ay malaki po ang maitutulong dito sa pamamagitan po ng tamang paggamit ng tubig – iyong water conservation  (We are advocating the proper use of water, water conservation. The public can greatly help through water conservation),” he said. The NWRB chief said they will coordinate with the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) and other state agencies in coming up with tips on conserving water for the public. The NWRB manages and regulates all water resources and services in the country. President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. earlier directed different government agencies to [make the necessary preparations and come up with a strategy to address the El Niño](https://mb.com.ph/2023/4/20/marcos-wants-urgent-action-to-counter-impending-dry-spell) phenomenon that may hit the country this year until early next year. Two specific instructions given by the President are the adoption of a whole-of-government or whole-of-nation approach and putting up protocol-based and scientific long-term processes that could be adopted by the country. The chief executive in February approved the creation of a Water Resource Management Office (WRMO) to manage the country’s water resources and respond to the current environmental challenges. The WRMO, which will be under the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), will be a transitory body pending the creation of the Department of Water Resources. Its main functions will include formulating and ensuring the implementation of the Integrated Water Management Plan, which will integrate various plans of different agencies.