
ILOILO City – Underground water, particularly aquifers, is a possible solution to water scarcity if surface water is no longer enough when the El Niño phenomenon-triggered dry spell sets in.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) has announced the start of El Niño, which will persist until the first quarter of 2024.
“Kon kulang kita sa surface water we have to look underground… we are talking about productive aquifers. For example sa Iloilo, sa diin bala kita makakita sang aton potential sources of water kon kapuson kita sa surface water?” said Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) regional executive director Livino Duran.
For Iloilo City, Tigum River is the main source of water for domestic, commercial and industrial uses. Duran said almost 500,000 Ilonggos are dependent on it.
One of the primary parts of this river system is the Maasin Dam (watershed) in Barangay Daja, Maasin, Iloilo.
“So kon kapuson kita dira sang (water) volume, meaning kapos ang aton gamit sa panimalay, lantawon naton. Indi naton pwede mahambal nga pagtanom kahoy madaku ang volume sang water. Bisan pugaon naton ang Tigum River, may ara limit ang aton volume,” he added.
Aquifer is a layer of water-bearing rock underground that transmits water in sufficient quantity to supply pumping wells or natural springs.
Duran, however, emphasized that there should be a detailed study on underground water source as it could not just be everywhere.
He stressed that productive aquifers should be under agricultural land and not residential and commercial, considering the kind of water that runs through underground.
He added that once the potential underground is spotted, it could be up for adaptation for water source.
“Paghambal naton nga young and productive aquifers, ang land use ya sa ibabaw, indi sya residential and commercial. It should remain as agricultural para ang recharge halin sa babaw sa ulan… Kay kon residential or commercial, masira ang aquifers naton kay ang recharge mo halin sa comfort rooms, halin sa hugasan. So dapat ang land use sa babaw, more or less, may semblance of permanency,” Duran explained.
WATER CONSERVATION GUIDELINES FOR GOV’T OFFICES
Earlier, Memorandum Circular (MC) No. 22 issued by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. mandated all government agencies and instrumentalities to strictly implement water conservation measures as part of efforts to prevent a water crisis.
The DENR, through its Water Resources Management Office (WRMO), pursuant to the said mandate released water conservation guidelines for government offices.
“Ginapahanumdom kita nga magtipid sa tubig, to manage our water for domestic purposes kasi damo ang kinahanglanon, damo ang apektado,” said Duran.
The guidelines provide that all agencies must have separate water meters and for them to regularly check if the meters are functioning properly.
Harvested rainwater should be used instead of potable water to clean premises or water plants.
Also, building administrators were reminded to monitor leaks and faulty fixtures, especially in toilets, and to be observant of floors and walls that may be constantly wet or covered with molds due to moisture.
Moreover, the WRMO recommended the shutdown of main building valves from 7 p.m., or after employees have completely left the office, until 6 a.m. the next day.
IRRIGATION
As to the supply of water for irrigation use, Duran said the government is also looking into it “very seriously.”
He lamented there will be a reduced production if water could no longer sustain irrigable or irrigated lands in Western Visayas.
DENR-6 is banking on the Jalaur River Multi-purpose Project (JRMP) II in Calinog town which is seen to provide the critical support needed by Iloilo farmers and the agriculture sector in general to improve productivity.
JRMP II will be able to provide year-round irrigation to 31,840 hectares of farm lots in the province of Iloilo and the whole of Western Visayas
It projected to increase annual production of rice in Iloilo to 300,000 metric tons from 140,000 metric tons. It could likewise expand the production areas of sugarcane and other crops.
FOREST COVER PROTECTION
Duran noted that the DENR and other stakeholders are working together to protect the region’s watersheds by doing advance forest cover.
The regional office has already instructed provincial, city and municipal environment and natural resources offices to strictly monitor activities in the upland such as kaingin farming.
Duran said they have already established 210 hectares of tree plantations all over the region adding to its forest cover.
“Kon wala sunog, probably we could already assure sang hambal naton nga forest cover sa subong nga panahon. Kon masunog ina, probably another reduction in terms of forest cover so ginapanumdom naton sila nga please bantayan naton ina and we wanted to be very strict about that,” Duran said.
He added the DENR-6 will not hesitate to enforce the law on environment and file cases against people who would destroy both natural and artificial plantations./PN