MANILA – There’s no such thing as 150 days’ worth of water – the amount President Rodrigo Duterte wanted the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System to release from Angat Dam to address the water shortage.
MWSS administrator Reynaldo Velasco made the clarification in light of presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo’s statement that Duterte had ordered MWSS to demand from the Manila Water and Maynilad and other responsible offices to release water from Angat Dam in Bulacan by noon Friday, March 15 “in order to supply the affected areas in Metro Manila and deliver, as well as distribute sufficient water to the residents.”
Velasco said he had already taken up the issue with Malacañang through Communications secretary Martin Andanar and executive secretary Salvador Medialdea.
“There’s no such thing as 150 days…” Velasco told GMA News Online.
“Mali ang advise kay Presidente. Kinorek ko na ‘yan, sinabihan ko na Secretary Andanar at Medialdea na mali ‘yung advise sa kanya,” he added.
Velasco said Angat’s water supply could not be counted by number of days it can serve but by MLD or million liters per day.
“Kino-correct ko na ‘yan,” Velasco said, pertaining to the order to release 150 days’ worth of water supply from Angat.
As of 6 a.m. on March 15, water level at Angat Dam was normal at 199.25 meters, still far from the 180-meter critical mark.
“They key issue here is how to serve ‘yung kakulangan,” Velasco said.
The MWSS has already identified short term solutions to address the water shortage, experienced particularly by customers of Manila Water.
Among the solutions identified were the energizing of the Cardona Water Treatment Plant in Rizal, which taps water from the Laguna Lake, tapping of deep wells, and Maynilad’s commitment to share 50 MLD to Manila Water through cross border sharing.
Manila Water has been implementing water interruptions in several areas in Metro Manila and Rizal to ensure that water supply can last until June or the rainy season. Due to the effects of the El Niño phenomenon, lesser rainfall are expected in the coming months. (GMA News)
