The looming effects of the dry season are already felt in Nueva Ecija and Albay where water levels continue to decrease in dams. 

The onset of El Niño has posed challenges to both power generation and agricultural irrigation.

NUEVA ECIJA

At the Pantabangan Dam in Nueva Ecija, water levels continue to decline but the Casecnan Hydropower Plant assured continued electricity generation, albeit at reduced capacity.

"Since summer, ‘yung inflow ng tubig is very small, what we do is we impound it until makargahan ang mga reservoir and then kapag puno na tsaka kami magpaandar, at least in a day makapag-generate kami ng 200 to 300 megawatt hours [na] good for two to four hours a day," Richard Difuntorum, the Plant Head of First Gen Hydro Power Corp, said.

With the hot weather persisting and no rainfall in sight, the power plant may resort to intermittent operation to conserve water.

Plans are underway for upgrading and expanding the hydropower plant, which will not only boost electricity supply but also enhance irrigation for agriculture.

Farmers, like Aurora Miguel, rely heavily on irrigation for their crops.

"Mahalaga ang patubig sa pananim namin, kung maganda ang patubig, maganda ang ani namin," Miguel said.

More than 130,000 hectares of farmland across Nueva Ecija, Tarlac, Pampanga, and Bulacan depend on water from the Pantabangan Dam.

Despite the dwindling water levels, irrigation will continue until April.

ALBAY

In Pio Duran, Albay, the lack of water in irrigation canals has led to parched lands, which has threatened local farms.

Mayor Alan Arandia believes that the dams should be rehabilitated because they were reportedly designed poorly, causing them to be filled with sand.

"Saro ngani ‘yan sa pigpo-propose ko na ining dam mi, matawan kami ki rehabilitation ta mayo na kaming tubig na na-stock. Pero may tubig pa an panganiran river," Arandia said.

However, according to the National Irrigation Administration (NIA), there is no evidence of any damage to their dam because the decrease in water levels is due to the extreme heat.

"Ang naging problema doon sa Caratagan Communal Irrigation System, bale yung buhangin po kasi, pumasok sa intake ng dam. Ilang beses na kami nagpadala ng heavy equipment para i-declog ‘yung intake natin na sa ngayon po, functional po ‘yung ating dam," Engineer Jessie Baynas, the field officer of NIA Albay, said.

The Caratagan Irrigators Association has urged the public to plant more trees.

"Mayong problema po duman sa lugar na ito. An kaipuhan kaito po [ay] ma-reforestation, ta sa momento po kaya ngonian, mayo na nin mga kahoy na mapagkukuanan lalo na kan magigin watershed," Mario Bagasmad, the President of the Caratagan Irrigators Association said.

(with reports from Jasmin Gabriel-Galban, GMA Regional TV One North Central Luzon, and GMA Regional TV Balitang Bicolandia)