Congress sets probe on water shortage Tuesday

June 23, 2019

House Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo said congressmen will probe the  water shortage due to decline in the level of Angat Dam on Tuesday.

Officials from the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS), National Water Resources Board (NWRB) as well as water concessionaires Manila Water Company Inc. and Maynilad Water Services Inc. will attend the hearing.

The Local Water Utilities Administration, National Irrigation Authority (NIA); Departments of Agriculture, Budget and Management, Environment and Natural Resources, and Public Works and Highways; National Economic and Development Authority are also expected to join.

Congress will also tackle the possible creation of a Department of Water.

As of Sunday, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) reported that Angat Dam level fell to 159.43 meters.

The NWRB on Saturday reduced allocation from 40 cubic meters per second to 36 cubic meters per second water to Manila Water and Maynilad. Cristina Eloisa Baclig/DMS