More cities, regions seen to suffer water shortage by 2025

At least two separate studies from two universities predict a more widespread water shortage in the country's key cities and regions by 2025 if the government fails to address the increasing demand for the valuable resource.

According to a report by Jun Veneracion on 24 Oras, the water concessionaire Manila Water has admitted that it was finding it difficult to keep up with the water demands of their customers in Metro Manila.

From the previous demand of 1,600 million liters per day, Manila Water's customers now need 1,750 million liters daily.

Manila Water's consumers in Metro Manila's east zone suffered lengthy water interruptions 

Based on a study conducted by the De La Salle University School of Economics in 2015, several cities are likely to suffer water shortage by 2025 due to their growing population.

These include Metro Cebu, Zamboanga City, Davao City, Bacolod City, Cagayan De Oro City, and Baguio City.

Almost the same projections were made in a separate study funded by the National Water Resources Board (NWRB) and undertaken by the University of the Philippines Los Baños in 2017.

By 2025, extreme water shortage is expected to occur in four regions including Central Luzon, Southern Luzon, Cagayan Valley, and Bicol, based on the study.

This prompted the NWRB, which was mandated to oversee the proper utilization of water resources in the country, to draft a national water security roadmap.

The strategic plan, however, has yet to be completed.

"Nag-conduct kami ng initial review ng mga reports. Nagko-conduct kami ng focus group discussion inviting other experts to provide also inputs sa discussion on the National (Water) Security Roadmap," said Dr. Sevillo David, executive director of the NWRB.

"Sa ngayon po, we are finalizing 'yung mga recommendation na maging parte ng proposed strategies and recommendations," he added.

According to the group Movement for Water Security, water demands in the Philippines is estimated to increase by 40 percent in 2030.

It added that the country should take appropriate actions to ensure water security as early as now with the global concern on climate change at the backdrop.

Ninety-three percent of the adverse impacts of climate change has something to do with water, based on the study of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific. —Dona Magsino/NB, GMA News