THE Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) will provide modular rain catchment devices to local government units (LGUs) in the National Capital Region (NCR) as its contribution to government efforts to conserve water resources to ease the dry spell threat of the El Niño phenomenon.
MMDA chairperson Romando Artes yesterday said the device can hold up to 10,000 liters of rainwater.
Artes said the decision to distribute the device was approved during Thursday’s meeting of the Metro Manila Council (MMC), which is composed of the 17 NCR mayors. It is the policy-making body of the MMDA.
“Itong rain catchment system na modular ay puwedeng mag hold ng aabot sa sampung libong litro ng tubig ulan. Puwede itong ilagay sa mga paaralan, pamilihan at iba pang mga pampublikong gusali (This rain catchment system is a modular that can hold up to 10,000 liters of rainwater. This can be installed in schools, public markets, and other public buildings),” Artes said.
“Instead na maki-agaw pa tayo sa suplay ng tubig maaari na natin gamiting itong tubig ulan sa ilang pangangailangan tulad ng pagdidilig ng halaman o panghugas ng gamit o sasakyan (We can use the rainwater to water plants or to wash our cars),” he also said, adding: “We have to reuse and recycle water, kaysa naman ang tubig ulan ay hahayaan lang natin dumaloy sa mga drainage at kalye (We have to reuse and recycle water instead of just letting rainwater drain off in drainage canals and in the streets).”
Artes said the agency will spend its own funds to purchase the catchment device. “On an individual basis, pwede naman ito gawin ng bawat LGU (The LGUs can buy them),” he added.
Artes also said the agency would intensify its information campaign to raise awareness among the public on the need to conserve water to mitigate the effects of El Niño and the perennial water shortage in the metropolis.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) has earlier warned that the El Niño phenomenon could cause dry spells and droughts in the country in the last quarter of the year and the first half of 2024.
