As the El Niño threat looms over the country, Naga City Mayor Leni Gerona Robredo said she plans to encourage residents to use large drums to collect rainwater for daily household needs in case of water shortages.
She said she sees merit in President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s call to collect rainwater, adding that her administration plans to use drums as the city prepares for the possible effects of El Niño.
“Actually, nakikita ko rin ang sense niyon, dahil pagkatapos ng Bagyong Kristine ay gusto na nating gawin iyan, at sa katunayan, gagawin natin dito, hindi naman balde kundi itong mga drum na rain catchment,” she said.
Robredo explained how the system would work and recalled an issue encountered while preparing for an earlier Angat Buhay pilot project in Barangay Triangulo.
“Kapag sinabing rain catchment, imbes na mapunta sa lupa ang ulan, naiipon ito sa mga drum para magamit muli. Puwede itong gamitin muli sa paglilinis ng bahay, ng bakuran, ng banyo. In fact, pagkatapos ng Bagyong Kristine, i-pi-pilot sana iyan ng Angat Buhay sa Barangay Triangulo, pero nang ilalagay na ang mga drum, napagtanto na walang mga alulod ang karamihan ng mga bahay.”
Marcos urged households during a media interview in Singapore on Oct. 11 to buy buckets and collect rainwater. He said the government would provide water filters and teach families how to properly filter and treat the collected water.
Palace Press Officer Claire Castro demonstrated how the water filtration system works on Wednesday, including drinking water processed through the system.
In Naga, the city government is organizing a task force to coordinate preparations for potential water shortages, agricultural losses and heat-related illnesses. Robredo said all city departments would take part, with the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office leading the coordination.
Robredo said the Metropolitan Naga Water District assured the city that it would have sufficient water through December, as long as consumption remains at normal levels. However, she cautioned against relying solely on the assurance and urged stronger public reminders on water conservation.
