Thus said the Water Resources Management Office (WRMO) of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) who on Tuesday said incentives have been eyed to help boost compliance with the water conservation initiatives of the government.
According to Carlos Primo David, undersecretary for integrated environmental science at the DENR, experience has shown people do not respond very well to penalties. It is better if government were to provide incentives instead.
He said for every peso that the offices save on their water bills, for instance, maybe the offices recover a portion of the savings and spend it for other purposes.
David said the DENR has reached out to the Civil Service Commission and the Department of Budget and Management for ways to push just such a campaign.
Earlier this month, the WRMO issued two separate bulletins enjoining government offices and the various local government units to practice water conservation as water level in Angat Dam, Metro Manila’s main water source, continues to diminish beyond its normal operating level.
Data from the National Power Corp. show Angat Dam water elevation as of 8 a.m. Tuesday at only 178.76 meters or 1.24 meters below the 180 normal operating level.
The NWRB’s most recent bulletin instructed barangay officials and condominium and as well as subdivision managers to advise residents to conserve water through reduction of activities that consume large amounts of water such as watering of lawns and washing of vehicles.
The agency said residents are likewise encouraged to promote rainwater collection for non-potable purposes and to re-use laundry and dishwashing wastewater for watering plants.
The WRMO also directed all local government units in the National Capital Region to fast track the approval of pipe repairs of water concessionaires Manila Water and Maynilad.
In its first bulletin, the WRMO issued guidelines for the potent implementation of conservation measures by government offices through the various building administrators.
David said government offices with high monthly water bills were told to implement measures lowering their consumption.
Among those found with high water consumption are compounds where several government offices are headquartered and have a single meter.
The DENR said a roving team from the WRMO has been deployed to remind government offices of pipe leaks and faulty toilet fixtures as among the most common sources of leaks observed by the agency.
