DA Secretary Proposed Alternative Water Source

Written by Marc Adrian

Department of Agriculture (DA) Secretary Manny Pinol proposed an alternative water source that will address the depleting water supply in Metro Manila. According to the DA Secretary, Metro Manila can get water supply from other dams in Luzon that are used mainly for irrigation aside from the Angat, Ipo, and La Mesa water reservoirs.

Pantabangan Dam in Nueva Ecija is one of the examples that he pointed out. He also argued that the farmlands do not need irrigation whole year round, so water supply in these dams can be utilized to augment the water requirement in Metro Manila. He added that if additional solar irrigation systems were built in Central Luzon, water reserve from these alternative dams could be utilized for Metro Manila’s domestic use.

The DA secretary, however, emphasized that a thorough study and planning should be undertaken before the proposal is implemented. Aside from the Pantabangan Dam, another reservoir in Arayat, Pampanga known as the Cong. Dadong Dam has been supplying water to farmlands in the province and nearby Nueva Ecija.

According to Maynilad’s forecast, there will be a growth of one million customers by the end of its concession term in 2037. This roughly translates to about one billion liters per day of consumption. Manila Water, meanwhile, has an existing list of 6.8 million clients.

These figures greatly outnumber the water supply that Angat Dam could provide, as its reserve is already nearing critical level. For this reason, Secretary Piñol to proposed the alternative water sources.

According to UNTV’s source, the dam’s feasibility study has already been completed but there are issues that need to be discussed with its proponents.

The National Water Resources Board (NWRB) said it would only require long conduits for the water to reach Metro Manila.

[Source]