Senator Grace Poe on Monday, March 18 reminded the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) on the necessity of coming up with mechanisms to resolve the country’s water crisis in preparation for the El Niño phenomenon.

Poe, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Public Services, issued the reminder after the MWSS announced a reduction in water allocation starting April.

“The possible water interruption if MWSS decreases water pressure gives a sense of déjà vu.

Paulit-ulit lang ang nararanasan nating kakulangan sa tubig tuwing tag-init (We experience water shortages repeatedly every summer),” Poe pointed out in a statement.

“El Niño is a foreseeable climate pattern. Concerned agencies and water concessionaires should have been prepared from the outset to ensure consumers would no longer suffer the nightmare of not having a drop from the tap,” she said.

Poe said investing in water infrastructure should have been the primary concern of water concessionaires in order to mitigate the impact of a potential drought due to the El Niño phenomenon.

“Waterless days heavily bear upon households, businesses, schools and other consumers.

A sufficient water supply is a ubiquitous problem,” she stressed.

“But in a country visited by typhoons at an average of 21 times a year, concessionaires should invest more and expedite better water infrastructure,” the senator emphasized.