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PHILIPPINES-GOVERNANCE-WATER
Millions hit in Manila’s ‘worst’ water shortage
MANILA, March 15, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – Manila has been hit by its worst water
shortage in years, leaving bucket-bearing families to wait hours to fill up
from tanker trucks and some hospitals to turn away less urgent cases.
Taps are dry from four to 20 hours per day in the homes of about half of
the Philippine capital’s roughly 12 million people due to rolling outages
driven by a dearth of rain and inadequate infrastructure.
“I have learned to take a bath using only seven pitchers of water,”
Ricardo Bergado told AFP as he lined up with his buckets. “I even save the
bath water to flush our toilet.”
The shortages started hitting late last week, with some areas in eastern
Manila seeing the supplies of water into their homes being completely cut
off.
However, Manila Water Company, one of the capital’s two suppliers, said it
will now use rolling cut offs spread across the city to share the pain more
evenly.
Jerry cans and buckets were flying off store shelves and landing in lines
where families were spending hours waiting for deliveries by truck.
“Instead of doing important things, our time is consumed now by making
sure we have enough water,” Bergado, a 57-year-old audio-technician told AFP.
At least five public hospitals in the capital have started getting
supplemental supplies from water tankers, as shortages had led at least one
to limit admissions.
“This is the worst (water shortage) we have experienced. It almost
happened last year but we were saved by heavy rains brought by storms,”
Dittie Galang, Manila Water communications manager, told AFP.
The disruption could last until July when monsoon rains are typically in
full swing and would replenish regional reservoirs, one of which is at a two-
decade low.
Better known for flooding from its frequent typhoons, the Philippines is
experiencing a dry spell that led to reserves being severely depleted.
At the same time, the ageing pipelines and dams that provide Manila’s
water have not kept pace with the growth of the mega-city, which has roughly
doubled its population since 1985.
The government has admitted that the problem of growing demand for water
has long been forecast but they failed to address it due to delays in
projects that would expand capacity.
“We need an alternative water source and we need it yesterday,” Patrick
Ty, chief of Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System, told ABS-CBN
television.
Among the main projects in the pipeline is the construction of $355-
million Kaliwa Dam, a Chinese-funded project that met resistance from
indigenous peoples and church leaders for its feared effects on communities.
BSS/AFP/MR/ 1042 hrs