BAGUIO CITY – The city council asked the Baguio Water District to submit a report on the current status of the water supply including its developmental plans to ensure uninterrupted water supply.
Mayor Mauricio Domogan signed Resolution No. 92 series of 2019 aimed at allaying worries of a water shortage similar to what was experienced in Metro Manila in the past months.
The city council approved the measure to be apprised of the BWD developments in the face of numerous complaints from residents and business establishments in some areas of the city on delayed or non-arrival of water supply, low water pressure and decreased supply from the district.
The body was also concerned that tourism activities increase during the summer which results in increased water consumption.
The aldermen expressed observation that the increasing drilling activities of private deep wells in the city and the over pumping of wells are also contributing to the depletion of water supply and the deterioration of the city’s aquifer.
“The Baguio Water District was formed in accordance with Presidential Decree No. 198 promulgated on 25 May 1973 or known as the “Provincial Water Utilities Act of 1973 and has to provide a report on the condition of water supply system of the city that shall include development plans or works towards water supply sufficiency and to have pre-emptive preparations and measures for water shortages,” the body noted.
The mayor earlier dispelled fears citing an earlier presentation made by the BWD during a consultation with stakeholders that a Manila water shortage scenario is not likely to happen in the city as contingency measures had been prepared by the BWD in anticipation of the El Nino phenomenon.
The BWD he said is operating 57 deep wells with eight spare that can be tapped when the need arises.
The body noted that recently, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) revealed that El Niño is expected to last until June this year and may cause a “slight delay” in the onset of the rains and further threatens the reliability of the water supply for Metro Manila and 11 provinces in the entire country that are experiencing meteorological drought.
“In the House of Representatives and the Senate, a thorough investigation is being called for to look into the causes of the water problem currently affecting residents in Metro Manila and Rizal with a declaration that the shortage could have been minimized or even prevented if it had the proper agencies and private concessionaires who acted promptly,” it added. ** Aileen P. Refuerzo