Iloilo water levels show signs of dropping amid El Niño concerns

ILOILO – The Provincial Government Environment and Natural Resources Office (PGENRO) is gathering reports from 43 local government units (LGUs) regarding the status of water sources across the province in light of the ongoing El Niño phenomenon.

These report s f rom Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Offices (MENROs) cover the status of dams, wells, rivers, and other water sources.

PGENRO head, Atty. Cesar Emmanuelle Buyco Jr., said, “Our water sources have indeed experienced a decrease in levels.”

He expressed the urgency of determining the water levels, especially those affecting the Maasin Watershed in Maasin town, which is a primary source for water districts.

Buyco explained that obtaining the actual status of the water sources is crucial for the provincial government, led by Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr., to implement mitigating measures and prevent a scenario where there is a lack of water supply, particularly for household use.

He emphasized t he collaborative effort required to address water supply issues, noting that Gov. Defensor has involved all provincial government offices in the initiative.

The Provincial Engineering Office (PEO), for instance, is actively searching for potential water sources using equipment capable of detecting water presence.

Despite the decrease in water levels reported by the MENROs, Buyco assured that, as of now, there has been no complete loss of water sources.

PGENRO recently convened to discuss plans for better management of the Maasin Watershed to ensure its ability to continue supplying water, especially in the face of calamities such as El Niño.

Cornelio Salinas, head of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office ( PDRRMO), reported that some towns distant from water sources, like dams and water districts, were gradually experiencing a reduction in water supply for household use.

“This situation is expected to persist until May,” Salinas said, predicting that the 1st District, which includes Oton,

Tigbauan, Tubungan, Igbaras, Guimbal, Miag- ao, and San Joaquin, will be most affected by water scarcity in the upcoming weeks.

Salinas believed that the central and northern towns would be less affected due to their proximity to water district lines, such as those of Dumangas-Barotac Nuevo Water District (DBNWD) and Metro Pacific Iloilo Water (MPIW).

“For household water distribution, it should be okay from Maasin going to Iloilo City due to the dam and Metro Pacific’s line. The most affected will likely be the 1st District. Analytically, those towns far from our private and public water concessionaires will feel the impact,” said Salinas./