MANILA, Philippines – The creation of a Department of Water should not be prioritized amidst the water supply woes gripping Metro Manila and adjacent regions, House Committee on Metro Manila Development chairperson Winston Castelo said on Sunday.
“Yung Department of Water siguro could come in at a later time. The problem now is how can we produce more water,” Castelo, who led a congressional investigation on the Metro Manila water crisis, said in an interview over radio dzBB.
The government earlier said it is mulling the creation of a Department of Water to address the water supply shortage.
READ: Gov’t mulls creation of Department of Water
“So yung Department of Water, I think, is not a priority if the intention is to create more water right now. It could come siguro at a later time,” he added.
The state weather bureau on Sunday reported that the water level at Angat Dam further dipped below the critical level to dipped to 159.43 meters.
The measured water level is already below the dam’s critical water level of 160 meters.
READ: Angat Dam water level further dips below critical level
This resulted in a water shortage in several areas in Metro Manila.
Castelo said that the shortage was due to the “lack of foresight” of water concessionaires on the increasing demand across the country.
“Hindi nila na-anticipate na ganun karami ang market, ganun karami ang consumer na through the years, dumami ang tao, napakaraming development,” he said.
“Ang El Niño, regular yan. So given the situation na may El Niño every year, bakit di sila gumawa ng long-term plan para maiwasan itong water crisis?” he added. (Editor: Gilbert S. Gaviola)