Scenes like this may again become a familiar sight in parts of Metro Manila and Cavite province this Holy Week. Maynilad on Thursday said service improvement works from April 16 to 20 will cause supply cutoffs lasting five to 30 hours. —JAM STA. ROSA / FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — A water deficit is possible next year in Metro Manila, including Cavite and Rizal, should the population in the region continue to increase, according to an official from the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System Regulatory Office (MWSS RO) on Tuesday.
During a press conference with reporters to address water interruptions that affected parts of southern Metro Manila, MWSS RO officer-in-charge (OIC) Lee Robert M. Britanico explained that Metro Manila’s population has been increasing since the economy reopened and more people returned from the provinces.
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“We have an increasing demand, so the deficit is projected definitely. Our supply right now is okay,” said Britanico.
Asked when he thought the deficit could happen, Britanico said it could happen in 2023, based on Metro Manila’s population.
According to the OIC, should the NCR fail to “get a new water source or an increase in supply this year” or will the region start to experience problems? However, he assured the public that there are still sufficient supplies this year, even with the summer season looming.
However, he still encouraged people to save water.
“Not to alarm everybody, but it’s more of, we want to encourage everybody to be on the same boat na para magkaroon tayo ng concerted effort kung paano natin mako-conserve yung tubig, kung paano natin efficiently gagamitin ang tubig,” said Britanico.
(Not to alarm everybody, but it’s more that we want to encourage everybody to be on the same boat so that there will be a concerted effort to conserve water and efficiently use water).
Britanico also assured that they check with water concessionaires Maynilad and Manila Water to ensure they efficiently operate the supplies.
“There are plans in place, there are measures in place para to avoid that, and to make sure that customers have 24/7 water, even in the summer,” said Britanico.
“We are preparing for the worst. We don’t want to have a significant deficit,” he added.