The Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) is asking the National Water Resources Board (NWRB) to retain the 52 cubic meters per second (cms) water allocation from Angat Dam for Metro Manila concessionaires in June.
Patrick James Dizon, MWSS division manager for Angat-Ipo operation management, said the letter-request was sent to the NWRB two weeks ago.
According to him, Metro Manila needs the have the same water allocation to avoid supply interruptions in the concession areas and that a special board meeting had been set for Wednesday to explain to the water board the need to have uninterrupted water supply.
MWSS said the water allocation in June last year of around 48 cms resulted in water interruptions in portions of the south concession area of Metro Manila including Cavite, Pasay and Muntinlupa which have not been highlighted.
“What we want to avoid is a scenario when there is a supply problem in the south, especially areas being supplied by the Laguna Lake. It is the reason why we requested for additional allocation, so that nobody will experience water interruptions. Thus, we want to maintain the 52 cms allocation,” Dizon added.
The NWRB had said the 52 cms allocation for April and May is possible as the irrigation needs in Bulacan and Pampanga have abated with the ongoing harvest season.
Water from Angat dam for irrigation will likely intensify in the second or third week of June and its volume release coordinated with the National Irrigation Administration.
Nevertheless, the agency also said that historically water allocation for irrigation is not fixed but adjusted based on actual need.
