MANILA – Manila Archbishop Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle urged for a ‘change in lifestyles’ and ‘ecological conversion’ as Metro Manila experienced a water crisis.
“Why do some people have no acces to clean water? Bakit walang mainom na tubig ‘yung iba samantalang ‘yung mga golf course, alagang-alaga ng tubig? (Why do others have no water to drink while golf courses abound in water?)” Tagle asked.
“We need to… discover the way the economy goes, the way we do business, the labor practices, the exclusion of the poor who become more vulnerable to ecological changes, to climate change,” he added.
The National Water Resources Board (NWRB) recently announced that Metro Manila’s water allocation will be reduced as a preparation for a possible drought with the onset of the El Niño phenomenon.
“The normal water allocation we receive is between 43 to 46 cms (cubic meters per second) but because NWRB has lowered it to 38 cms, this will entail an appropriate action from the Maynilad and Manila Water,” Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) Senior Deputy Administrator Nathaniel Santos said.
“Some areas will experience lower water pressure, while others will have shortened water service hours,” he added.
About 355,500 households were expected to experience water supply interruptions starting next week.
Read: Metro Manila to experience water supply disruptions this month
Meanwhile, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) warned residents in Metro Manila and nearby provinces about the ‘strong’ effects of El Niño to be felt in the coming months