Metro Manila’s water dependence on Angat Dam has gone down by seven percent, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) said on Monday, March 18.

Environment Undersecretary of Integrated Environmental Science Carlos Primo David said the water dependence of the metropolis on Angat Dam decreased to 90 percent from 97 percent five years ago.

He attributed the decrease in Metro Manila’s water dependence to new water sources such as other dams and deep wells.

“Five years ago, ang dependence natin ang Angat Dam ay 97 percent, iyong tubig ng Metro Manila ay galing doon. Sa ngayon, dahil mayroon na tayong bagong sources ng tubig, nandyan ‘yung Wawa Dam, Laguna Lake, and then inactivate na rin natin ang deep wells natin, 90 percent dependent lang tayo sa Angat Dam (Five years ago, our dependence on Angat Dam was 97 percent, that’s where Metro Manila's water comes from. Right now, because we have new sources of water, there's the Wawa Dam, Laguna Lake, and then we've also activated our deep wells, we're only 90 percent dependent on Angat Dam),” he said during a radio interview.

In two years, according to David, Metro Manila’s dependence on Angat Dam will further decrease because of the Kaliwa Dam. He said the dam is currently under construction.

“At kapag pumasok ‘yung tubig mula sa Kaliwa Dam, in two years’ time, mas maliit pa lalo ‘yung ating dependence which is good dahil nag-diversify na tayo ng sources natin (And once the water from Kaliwa Dam comes in, in two years’ time, our dependence will go down which is good because our sources diversified),” he said.

David admitted that there is still some resistance to the construction of the Kaliwa Dam, but he is still bullish that it will finish construction.

El Niño waning

According to David, it seems that the El Niño phenomenon is waning and will no longer persist until June.

“Iyong El Niño rin na inaasahan natin na mag-pe-persist hanggang June mukhang pahina na siya nitong April and May at baka wala na siya by June. So umikli rin ‘yung ating El Niño (The El Niño, which we expect to persist until June, looks like it is weakening in April and May and may be gone by June. So it got shorter),” he said.

Due to the government’s water management measures, the DENR official said the water supply of Metro Manila this year is enough should drought conditions not persist.

David said the DENR will release a water conservation bulletin targeting subdivisions, condominiums, and villages.

He said the bulletin contains the ban on car washing with garden hosts; to only water lawns once a day, preferably in the morning for water not to evaporate; and to report water pipe leaks.

The DENR has urged Metro Manila residents to limit their water consumption to ensure that there would be no need for water rationing this year.

Metro Manila and its nearby provinces experienced a water shortage due to the El Niño phenomenon in March 2019.

On March 18, the Department of Agriculture (DA) said the estimated damage caused by El Niño has reached P1.75 billion.