CL farmers to NWRB: Reduce water allocation for Metro

MALOLOS CITY, Philippines – Farmers in Central Luzon have urged the National Water Resources Board (NWRB) to reduce the water allocation for Metro Manila to prevent the water level in Angat Dam from hitting a historic low as was recorded in 2010.

This came after Angat’s water elevation further dropped to 164.84 meters above sea level (masl) yesterday morning despite the onset of the rainy season. This water level is at least 15 meters below the critical 180 masl of the dam. Angat’s lowest water level recorded was 157.87 masl in June 2010. 

Guillermo Mangaluz, who chairs the Angat-Maasim River Irrigation System Irrigators Associations’ Confederation, told The STAR that the cropping pattern in Bulacan and Pampanga is now delayed.

He said farmers in the towns of Apalit, San Simon and San Luis in Pampanga and in Baliwag, Bulacan have not yet planted their wet season crops. “They plowed the farmland because it is raining, but they cannot plant because there is no assurance that irrigation from the dam will come,” he said.

Earlier, it was reported that irrigation from Angat Dam would remain cut until the water elevation surpassed the critical 180 masl.

Mangaluz, however, raised concern that since El Niño is expected to hit in the third quarter, farmers might not have enough water to sustain their crops if irrigation is further delayed.

“The NWRB should reduce the water allocation for Metro Manila for the water level in the Angat Dam to increase again,” Mangaluz said in Filipino. He also lamented the apparent disregard of the NWRB on the plight of Bulacan and Pampanga farmers.

Liza Sacdalan, who chairs the Plaridel-Guiguinto Irrigators’ Association, raised the same concern. “The NWRB is always prioritizing Metro Manila that is why rain or shine the board does not reduce the allocation for the MWSS (Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System), but for the farmers they always have none,” Sacdalan said in Filipino.