MANILA, Philippines — The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) and the Metro Manila Council (MMC) on Wednesday said that it is considering implementing a “rain catchment system” to alleviate the effects of El Niño, specifically, a shortage in the water supply.
According to MMDA acting chair Don Artes, the MMDA is currently researching the viability of a modular rain catchment system.
“[Ang MMDA] meron pong nire-research ngayon na rain catchment system kung saan modular, so depende po sa espasyo, pwedeng i-adjust ‘yung modular catchment basin na yan na nagho-hold ng up to 10 cubic meters sa tubig, or ten thousand liters,” said Artes.
(The MMDA is currently researching a rain catchment system that is modular, so depending on the space, that modular catchment basin that holds up to 10 cubic meters of water can be adjusted, or ten thousand liters.)
“Ang maganda pa po doon sa tinitignan nating sistema, iyon pong unang tulo, lalong-lalo na kung galing sa bubong iyong tubig, tatapon po muna. Para ‘yung nai-istore lang is ‘yung malinis na tubig,” he added.
(The good thing about the system we are looking at is that its first drop, especially if water comes from the roof, will be thrown away first. This way, what’s stored is just clean water.)
The collected water will then be exclusively used for secondary use, which means it is not for human consumption.
MMC president San Juan City Mayor Francis Zamora said that the catchment system could be set up in city halls, barangay halls, and public schools, among others.
“‘Yung tubig ulan na tumatama o nasasalo ng ating mga bubong o alulod ay dadaloy papunta sa mga drum, upang ating maimbak at magamit. So we have to reuse and recycle water,” said Zamora.
(The rainwater that hits the roofs and goes down the drain will flow into the drums so that we can store and use them. So we have to reuse and recycle water.)
“Kesa naman ang tubig ulan ay dumaloy lamang sa mga kalye at sa mga drainage na nagdadagdag pa sa problema ng baha, mas mabuting saluhin natin ito at gamitin sa mas mabuting paraan,” he added.
(Instead of the rainwater just flowing down the streets and drainage adding to the problem of flooding, it is better for us to catch it and use it in a better way.)
Zamora said the MMDA will provide the tanks for the catchment system, and that they will be piloting the system to cities in Metro Manila.
When asked when the system will be implemented, Zamora said that no specific date has been decided yet as it is still being studied.
“But on an individual basis, pwede naman po itong gawin sa bawat LGU [local government unit]. Ang concept lang naman dito ay saluhin ang tubig ulan, so ano man ang nakikita nating paraan para masalo nga ito, halimbawa yung mga bubong natin, pwede nating lagyan ng pwedeng laglalagyan ng tubig, papunta sa isang embudo na pupunta naman sa mga drum na pwede nating gamitin upang magimbak ng tubig,” said Zamora.
(But on an individual basis, it can be done in each LGU. The only concept here is catching rainwater, so whatever way we see to catch it, for example, our roofs, we can put something that can hold water that goes into a funnel to the drums that can we use to store water.)
“Huwag tayong magsayang ng tubig, gamitin natin itong muli, we can reuse and recycle water, imbakin natin at gamitin sa iba’t ibang paraan,” he added.
(Let’s not waste water; let’s use it again. We can reuse and recycle water; let’s store it and use it in different ways.)
Artes then reminded the public to make sure that the collected water would be covered to avoid the breeding of mosquitoes.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration, declared the onset of El Niño on July 4, projecting it to persist until the first quarter of 2024.
– With reports from Ivana Romero, INQUIRER.net Trainee
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