‘No need for state of calamity in Metro Manila amid El Niño’

A concentrated beam of light produced by a Campbell-Stokes sunshine recorder burns along a specially designed strip of paper to measure the duration and intensity of sunlight. The country is experiencing scorching weather due to the El Nino phenomenon and the onset of the dry season, 
(INQUIRER PHOTO/LYN RILLON)

MANILA, Philippines — Task Force El Niño spokesperson Asst. Secretary Joey Villarama on Tuesday stated that there is no need to declare a state of calamity in Metro Manila despite the prevailing dry spell.

Zamboanga City has already declared a state of calamity in March due to the water shortage caused by the El Niño phenomenon.

In an ambush interview in Malacañan Palace, Villarama said that Metro Manila has yet to reach critical water levels amid the combined effects of the dry season and El Niño.

“Hindi pa po tayo humahantong sa critical level and as I said, mayroon pong contingency measures and dapat po natin i-factor in din na sa mga susunod na linggo, mayroon pa naman pong pag-uulan na nafoforecast ang Pagasa (Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration),” said Villarama. 

(We have not reached critical levels, and as I said, there are contingency measures, and we should factor in that in the following weeks, the Pagasa is forecasting some rain.) 

According to Villarama, Angat Dam’s water level is still 198 meters above the critical level of 180 meters. 

Villarama, however,  cautioned that the dam levels could still be lower. Some factors contributing to lower levels include the lack of rainfall, evaporation due to heat, and increased water consumption.