President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr. has directed the Water Resource Management Office (WRMO) to take the lead in implementing water conservation measures amid the dry spell in the next months.
Government agencies were told to identify and implement specific quantifiable and attainable water conservation measures that will result in ten percent water volume reduction of their first quarter water consumption.
Private water service providers were also encouraged to implement water conservation measures.
Marcos orders gov't agencies: Save water, avert dry spell
Jun 9, 2023 06:06 AM
At a glance
President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. has ordered all government agencies to strictly implement water conservation measures to avert a possible water crisis.
Through Memorandum Circular No. 22, dated June 7, Marcos directed the Water Resource Management Office (WRMO) and its network of agencies to take the lead in implementing water conservation measures amid the dry spell in the next months.
All government agencies, including government-owned or -controlled corporations and state universities and colleges were told to "identify and implement specific quantifiable and attainable water conservation measures that will result in ten percent water volume reduction of their respective first quarter (January to March 2023) water consumption."
The President also ordered the Local Water Utilities Administration, National Water Resources Board, and the Metropolitan Water and Sewerage System to submit to the WRMO a monthly supply-demand projection to determine possible deficit in water supply in the near future.
Private water service providers, on the other hand, were also encouraged to implement water conservation measures, such as but not limited to non-revenue water management and water pressure management.
National government-run and local government-run water service providers were also urged to immediately complete their projects to reduce non-revenue water and upgrade their distribution pipes.
The local government units are encouraged to process the requests of water service providers for waterworks within a reasonable period of time.
Marcos also directed the WRMO to identify strategies towards water conservation measures and provide quarterly updates to the Office of the President, through the Office of the Executive Secretary, on the progress.
According to the Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), the country's El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) Alert and Warning System was raised to El Niño Alert as of May 24.
PAGASA said El Niño increases the likelihood of below-normal rainfall conditions, which could bring negative impacts such as dry spells and droughts in some areas of the country.