President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s plan to collect, impound and recycle rainwater in Metro Manila for agricultural irrigation use in surrounding provinces has drawn the support of a senior member of Congress.
“We are all for it. Assuming the government can establish new large stormwater reservoirs for farm irrigation, then all of Angat Dam’s water reserve may be freed up and devoted exclusively to supplying Metro Manila’s demand for potable water,” Makati City Representative Luis Campos Jr. said.
“Besides supplying 90 percent of Metro Manila’s water requirement, Angat also provides water to irrigate some 28,000 hectares of farmland in Central Luzon.”
“At present, besides supplying 90 percent of Metro Manila’s water requirement, Angat also provides water to irrigate some 28,000 hectares of farmland in Central Luzon,” Campos pointed out.
The veteran legislator’s remarks came as Angat’s water level continued to drop due to abnormally low rainfall amid a looming El Niño event.
As of 6:00am on June 25, Angat’s water level fell to 184 meters, or just four meters above the dam’s 180-meter critically low water mark. The dam’s normal high water level is 210 meters.
In previous dry spells, Angat, which is in Norzagaray, Bulacan, had stopped releasing farm irrigation water to conserve water supply for Metro Manila.
Marcos earlier said the government plans to tap the multibillion-peso annual budget for flood control projects to create large stormwater impounding areas for farm irrigation purposes.
Stormwater refers to excess ground water from heavy rains, and which cause flooding until they drain out into natural waterways such as rivers and lakes.
Stormwater refers to excess ground water from heavy rains, and which cause flooding until they drain out into natural waterways such as rivers and lakes.
Campos had previously filed House resolution No. 906, which pressed for a congressional inquiry into the “unsuccessful implementation” of the Rainwater Collection and Springs Development Law of 1989.
The 34-year-old law requires the Department of Public Works and Highways to construct rainwater collectors in all barangays.
In a recent congressional hearing, Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) officials had warned of an approaching El Niño that has a 90 percent chance of developing starting next month, and which could persist until the first quarter of 2024.
When the Philippines last endured an El Niño event in 2019, vast parts of the country, including Metro Manila, reeled from a drought that caused widespread water shortages and farm losses, after dams and lakes that supply potable and irrigation water experienced a massive decline in rainfall.
