Water Shortage In Manila

It looks like the inevitable happened. There is a looming water shortage in the Philippines and currently they are already rationing water supplies in some parts of Visayas and Mindanao. I wonder what led to this mess aside from the EL NINO phenomenon. Way back then, it was already a big joke if you tell people that we will pay for bottled water. It was such a preposterous idea but look at us now... even kids nowadays do not drink straight from the faucet because of the dangers concerning its potability.

My brother got stomach ache his whole stay here 2 years ago because he just had ice that was made with water off the faucet which would mean there is already something wrong with it. It does not seem to be getting better every day. If in a few months and we do not get rain in the La Mesa Water shed which supplies around 80 percent of our drinking water in Manila then it would mean disaster to all of us. I wonder what the government is doing aside from rationing, people need to do cloud seeding and stuff like that to start rain as soon as possible. I don't know where we are going to end up now that we have this problem with water. This was supposed to be a joke a few years ago and look at us now. Even electricity is going to be scarce. We should get something sourced now through NUCLEAR or Hydroelectric or solar since we are in a tropical climate. Someone should think about this and do some measures now before its too late!

Save Water

A widespread information campaign has been sought by Malacanang because we need to save water in the event EL NINO phenomenon hits the country this year.

Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said that President Arroyo has directed Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA) to finish the projects in preparation for Summer. I am quite afraid to have to make rounds again just to have ample amount of water for taking a bath. I need a lot of water most of the time that is why I take almost an hour inside the shower.

We need to make sure there is ample amount of supply of water for drinking in Metro Manila and urban cities. The water level in Angat Dam which supplies most of Manila’s water is 19 feet below the expected level and it will be hard to expect rain in the beginning of 2010.

Malacañang also hurried the water projects in the provinces so that there would be no problems with farming since we are importing most of our rice supplies from Thailand still.
There also should be some way they can repair dams that have leaks. A lot of them just go to waste and will not end up on our homes. I hope it does not happen!

Meralco Electricity Rates Go Down, Water Rates Go Up!

The Horror Continues!

Manila Electric Company rates will go down this month while Water rates will go up. There will be a 5 centavo deduction per kilowatt hour in the power rates or about 10 pesos for households that consume 200 Kwatts per month. This was explained by Meralco Chief for Utility Economics Ivanna de la Pena that due to the lower Generation Rate Adjustment Mechanism (GRAM) of lower electricity costs because of the worst winter elsewhere in the world. The rate adjustments appear to be temporary as March approaches for the Summer Season so don't rejoice yet!

Manila Water and Maynilad on the other hand will be raising prices in the last week of this month. This is because of the automatic adjustment for inflation at recovery ng foreign exchange losses and does not reflect the basic rates. Manila Water will be raising 12.2 percent consumer price index adjustment and about 1.03 percent foreign currency differential adjustment. Will this mean there will be adjustments over adjustments and adjustments? Hahaha...

Manila Water's adjustment will be P2.27 per cubic meter while P2.81 per cubic meter will be for Maynilad rates. Prices will take effect 15 days from notice... so that started this Thursday... and the horror will start on the 26th.