AMID an impending water shortage because of the El Niño Phenomenon, a Palace official cited the need for a concerted effort embarking on water conservation.
But instead of asking the businesses and industries consuming huge bulk of water supply to consider reducing its consumption, Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Assistant Secretary Joey Villarama, who is also the designated spokesperson of the El Niño Task Force took a swipe at families using inflatable portable pools.
Citing the most recent data posted by the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration’s Hydrometeorology Division, the water level at the Angat Dam which supplies the bulk of Metro Manila’s water supply requirement dropped below normal water level.
According to Villarama, the government is formulating measures that would ensure that what is left at the government dams would be enough at least until the dry spell is over. He however said that the government effort should be quantified with public compliance.
“We should not let our guard down, just because the government said we have enough water and food and there will be no interruption in electricity until a certain period of the year. We should do our share to help,”
Aside from dissuading the use of inflatable mini-swimming pools being used by families who could not afford to go to private resorts to cool down, Villarama also mentioned limiting bath time.
“We are also asking for the help of everyone so that we can overcome the possible impact of El Niño through small behavioral changes in conserving water, food, and energy.”
Interestingly, the volume of water used in filling up a portable inflatable pool is way negligible as compared to the consumption of private golf clubs using sprinklers 24-7 to keep their fairways green.
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