A prayer request by the National Power Corp. to Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle for an oratio imperata (mandatory prayer for the faithful) seeking Divine Providence for rain in order to raise the declining water level in the Angat Dam in Bulacan province dramatized the growing concern of the power sector on the El Niño effect in the country’s water sources.
Cebu province has yet to experience the full-on effect of El Niño but it’s only a matter of time before the rising temperatures would affect the water supply, hence the big to-do over the Carmen bulk water supply project which is supposed to be launched this July with the accompanying water rate increase proposed for the province.
Elsewhere in the country, water is also a power source and the low water level in some parts of Mindanao has resulted in four- to six-hour-long brownouts resulting in millions of pesos in lost revenue for businesses.
Thanks to climate change, El Niño’s presence will be felt markedly long after the summer period in the country is over. Whether or not Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma will be asked by the local power utilities to order an oratio imperata for rain remains to be seen.
But what we do know is that the fluctuating water levels and the proposed water rate increase means that Cebuanos will be forced to observe water conservation whether they want to or not. And they can back their prayers for rain with their own conservation efforts.
That means reusing bath water or water used in laundry to wash one’s car or stocking up water in barrels or tanks in case of brownouts or low water pressure. That also means ensuring there won’t be any stagnant water inside or near homes to avoid dengue.
There was also a proposal to cut off water used in maintaining golf courses whenever they aren’t in use. Thousands of gallons of water are used to maintain golf courses to the detriment of households who had to endure low water pressure during the hottest of days.
The restrooms of malls are outfitted with waterless urinals that remain clean even after use. Maybe they and the hotels could also find ways to cut down on their artificial waterfalls?
The Mactan Cebu Water District can also campaign aggressively on illegal water connections by offering rewards but this task should be undertaken by the public if only to help in water conservation efforts.
It has been sometime since the country experienced a drought and one can only hope and pray that it doesn’t happen this year or any other year for that matter. But even with no drought forthcoming, Cebuanos should conserve water like there was one happening today or tomorrow.