Angat level stable amid higher water allocations

MANILA, Philippines — National Water Resources Board executive director Sevillo David Jr. gave assurance that the level of Angat Dam will not be threatened despite the decision of the NWRB to grant the 52 cubic meters per second (cms) requested by the Maynilad Water Service Inc. and Manila Water through the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS).

“That’s correct (it will not affect the level of Angat Dam). That was considered by the NWRB and we considered in our projection the rains expected by PAGASA (Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration),” David said.

He added that based on the decision of the NWRB, the 52 cms will be effective from April to May 2023.

“We expect that the two cms additional allocation for April and May will not affect our water requirement in the next months and the entire year,” David added.

He said the NWRB also tasked the MWSS to submit plans to improve the water supply in Metro Manila and nearby provinces.

“The Board approved the additional two cms for April and for May, it was also conditionally approved but the Board asked for the submission of necessary commitments for specific program and timeline,” David noted.

According to him, the board considered the daily water interruption being experienced by Maynilad customers on its decision to increase the allocation to 52 cms from the previous 50 cms.

“During the meeting of the NWRB Board to the MWSS, the latter enumerated efforts to minimize the water interruption, and the NWRB acknowledged the actions of water concessionaires, including efforts to address the leakages,” David added.

At the same time, he underscored the need to conserve water to prevent another water crisis that was experienced in 2019.

“We need the cooperation of everybody. The NWRB allows the MWSS to use the standby deep wells. These are operational unlike in 2019 that we don’t have these augmentation measures,” David said.

MWSS Administrator Leonor Cleofas on Friday said the additional two cms allocation will be given to Maynilad to address the daily water interruption being experienced by its customers.

As of 6 a.m. on Sunday, PAGASA said that the level of Angat Dam was at 197.97 meters compared to its previous day level of 198.19 meters or 0.22 centimeters less.

David has said that the government learned from El Niño where Angat Dam reached its lowest level of 116 meters in June 2019.

He assured the public that aside from NWRB, concerned government agencies including MWSS and NIA regularly hold coordination meetings in preparation for El Niño.

PAGASA has said that the country will experience El Niño starting June or July this year.