MANILA, Philippines ? The spotlight is now on golf courses.

After disclosing that Metro Manila is now undergoing water stress, officials of the National Water Resources Board (NWRB) met with administrators of golf courses last week in a bid to prevent the problem from worsening.

NWRB head Ramon Alikpala said water stress meant nine cities in the country, including Metro Manila, would soon be or are already getting water from other places not within their own environments.

?Most of these golf courses tap water from aquifers, further depleting the groundwater supply in the metropolis,? he said.

Alikpala said they talked to the golf course administrators about considering the use of wastewater for watering the grass to protect Metro Manila?s groundwater supply.

Alikpala revealed last week that the high level of urbanization in Metro Manila and the cities of Baguio, Angeles, Iloilo, Davao, Bacolod, Cagayan de Oro, Zamboanga and Metro Cebu has had a negative impact on their water supply.

While assuring the public that the country?s water supply is still relatively abundant, Alikpala warned that the mismanagement of water resources could eventually lead to a crisis.

Studies have revealed that the groundwater supply in Metro Manila has reached a critical level, he added.

Alikpala said the University of the Philippines has identified the cities of Caloocan, Malabon, Navotas and Valenzuela as among the specific areas ?where groundwater has been reduced to below the sea level.?

Other problems in Metro Manila are saltwater intrusion and contamination of groundwater from septic tanks.