Water crisis likely if El Niño intensifies

METRO Manila will have a serious water problem if the El Niño episode intensifies or extends until the second half of 2024, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) warned.

«If the El Niño event next year progresses, intensifies, or even extends further than June [2024], then it will be a major problem for Metro Manila,» DENR Undersecretary Carlos Primo David said late Monday.

He said water conservation will be a key strategy, especially in the first six months of next year.

David said Angat Dam, which supplies the water need in Metro Manila, is full but it may not last beyond the second quarter of 2004.

«From our calculations, the amount of water that we have from Angat Dam and from other resources will be good for our supply until around May to June of 2024,» he said.

He said officials want to avoid a repeat of the water crisis in 2019 when a strong El Niño occurred.

David urged residents and local governments to conserve water.

Environment Secretary Maria Antonia ''Toni'' Yulo-Loyzaga cited the crucial role of local government units in addressing water problems.

«Local governments need to take the lead here in terms of their own assessment of their needs and the risk of climate change to their particular local government,» Yulo-Loyzaga said.