Naga City Mayor Leni Robredo is urging residents to cut unnecessary water use as the city prepares for the possible impact of El Niño and a reported decline in local water sources.
Robredo said the city government has intensified its information and education drive through barangay and school forums, along with online advisories focused on practical conservation measures. The campaign comes as the Metro Naga Water District reported that about 30 percent of the city’s water sources had declined, raising concerns over supply in areas already vulnerable to shortages.
“Save water, save life,” Robredo said as she appealed to households to use water more carefully.
One of the simplest measures being pushed is the use of basins when washing dishes instead of keeping faucets running.
City disaster officials estimate that if 50,000 households save even one liter per washing cycle, Naga could conserve around 50,000 liters at a time and potentially about 150,000 liters a day if households wash dishes three times daily.
Robredo also raised concerns over the need for additional distribution pipes to serve Naga’s growing population, with funding still needed from the Local Water Utilities Administration. Metro Naga Water District General Manager Florencio Mongoso told Robredo that the city’s current water supply is expected to last until December 2026.
The city is also preparing for the possibility of rationing if supply conditions worsen. Robredo said she hopes rationing will not become necessary, but any plan would likely involve scheduled water interruptions in selected areas so other communities could continue receiving supply.
For now, Robredo is pushing conservation as the first line of defense.
“Every drop counts,” the city government said in its public advisory, as Naga asks households to reduce waste before El Niño places heavier pressure on the local water system.
