Solving the water crisis

As early as March this year, President Marcos had acknowledged a looming water crisis. Recent events proved him right.

First, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) declared the onset of El Niño, a climate pattern that increases the chances of below-normal rainfall conditions in our region. Just a few days after the declaration, reports came in that the water level in Angat Dam, Metro Manila’s main source of raw water, had fallen below its minimum operating level, thus raising the possibility of decreased water supply for the metropolis. True enough, an advisory from Maynilad Water Services Inc. followed, stating that the company will enforce rotating water service interruptions in various areas of Metro Manila.

Unfortunately, matters could get worse in the coming months, since Pagasa anticipates that El Niño may persist until next year. Water scarcity could lead to several problems, chief of which is the lack of drinking water. Early this year, an officer of the National Water Resources Board said that around 11 million Filipino families still do not have access to clean water, with many obtaining water from unsafe sources. One can only imagine how much the present crisis could increase this number.

Another glaring problem is the potential decrease in food production, especially in a country like ours which relies heavily on agriculture. The lack of water could result to crops drying up that, in turn, could drive up food prices. This is alarming considering that we are still grappling with the injurious effects of a global inflation.

The government must act fast to solve the water crisis, or at the very least, to mitigate its effects. The creation of the Water Resources Management Office under the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, along with the plan to create an institutionalized Department of Water Resources through legislation, signal a good start. These could help harmonize efforts in tackling the present crisis. Similarly, the directive to government agencies, local government units, and other stakeholders to enforce water conservation measures is commendable. Nevertheless, the government should still implement other long-term solutions.

To begin with, there is a need to find other sources of clean water. The government should ensure the safe and speedy construction of dams that would provide additional water supply to the population. This is not an easy task, considering that the government must also preserve the environment and protect the rights of indigenous peoples. At this stage, however, the government has no choice but to find a way to navigate these issues.

Additionally, the government could rely on technological solutions. For example, it could look into the installation of hydropanels—solar-powered panels that trap water vapor through the natural process of condensation. Just a few years ago, a nonprofit and a United States-based company collaborated and successfully installed hydropanels in Palawan, which reportedly helped provide a renewable supply of drinking water to an indigenous community. While admittedly, implementing a similar project or any other technology-focused project on a larger scale can be costly, such endeavors are worthwhile as they can also provide more lasting solutions to the water crisis.

Perhaps the government can encourage the country’s biggest conglomerates, particularly those whose operations require the consumption of vast amounts of water such as real estate developers, to invest in similar technology. Inevitably, the country can only solve the current crisis if both the public and private sectors will cooperate and exert efforts toward water conservation.

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Mario C. Cerilles Jr. is cofounder of Cerilles and Fernan Intellectual Property Law. He also teaches intellectual property law at the University of the Philippines College of Law. Email: mccerilles@gmail.com