The Cebu Provincial Board has approved a resolution requesting the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) and Metro Cebu Water District (MCWD) to spearhead a program that will provide a long-term solution to the worsening effects of El Niño.
PB Member Thadeo Ouano, who authored the resolution, noted that the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) has predicted that the El Niño phenomenon in the country will last until May this year.
The resolution states the need to address water shortage if the hot weather continues. It also calls for measures to mitigate the damage to agriculture as a result of the water shortage.
The resolution reminds the people that water treatment, recycling and conservation should be practiced daily.
The Philippine Institute for Development Studies said an average Filipino family consumes six liters of water per day for drinking and 12 liters for kitchen purposes.
The chamber has already initiated steps towards water conservation through information dissemination among its members.
The occurrence of El Niño since last year has compelled the Cebu Provincial government to conduct cloud seeding and build water reservoirs to counter its effects.
On Feb. 4, agriculturists from all over the province will meet to discuss and assess the effects of the said weather condition.