Bicolanos urged to conserve water as El Niño strengthens

By Jordan Kurt Domingo

LEGAZPI CITY --- Water districts and other water service providers in Bicol are being urged to strengthen preparations and secure alternative water sources as a stronger El Niño is expected to affect the country through the first half of 2027.

The call comes as the National Water Resources Board (NWRB) has directed Metro Manila's water concessionaires to look for alternative sources amid the projected reduction in available water from Angat Dam as El Niño intensifies.

The warning is also relevant to Bicol, where parts of the region have already experienced the effects of prolonged dry conditions.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said in its Sept. 23 climate advisory that a strong El Niño is currently active in the tropical Pacific and is expected to intensify into a very strong El Niño between September and December 2026, with the phenomenon likely to persist through the first half of 2027.

PAGASA said El Niño increases the likelihood of below-normal rainfall, which could result in dry spells and drought in some areas of the country.

In Bicol, the Philippine Information Agency earlier reported that several areas were already experiencing varying degrees of dryness, with Albay, Camarines Norte, Catanduanes and Masbate placed under meteorological drought as of May.

The Legazpi City Water District, however, said at the time that it had no water supply shortage but was already preparing for the possible effects of El Niño by identifying and developing alternative water sources.

More recently, the provincial governments of Albay and Catanduanes have intensified preparations for possible water shortages.

In Catanduanes, the provincial government has proposed the Provincial Water, Ecology and Resilience Towards El Niño (PWERTE) Program, which covers all 315 barangays and includes rainwater storage facilities, watershed protection, water impounding and emergency water rationing.

The NWRB warning in Metro Manila highlights the importance of similar preparations in other parts of the country.

The agency said Metro Manila’s water allocation could potentially be reduced from 53 cubic meters per second to 44 cubic meters per second because of the expected effects of El Niño.

NWRB Executive Director Sevillo David Jr. said water concessionaires could tap alternative sources, including Laguna Lake, Cavite and Upper Wawa, instead of relying heavily on Angat Dam.

David also called for water conservation measures to begin early to ensure that available supplies would last until 2027.

For Bicol, where water systems and sources vary from one province and locality to another, the continuing El Niño forecast underscores the need for water providers and local governments to assess their available sources, protect watersheds and prepare contingency measures before shortages become critical.

PAGASA's latest outlook indicates that El Niño will continue to pose a risk of below-normal rainfall, although rainfall conditions may still vary from one area to another.

The developing situation also calls for households, businesses and institutions to conserve water and avoid unnecessary consumption while government agencies and water providers strengthen their preparations.