Rainwater Harvesting Infrastructure Needed As El Niño Nears
A lawmaker issued the call as the state weather bureau warned that Metro Manila and 47 provinces could experience dry conditions in the coming months as El Niño develops.
The Marcos administration needs to tap the P1 billion People’s Survival Fund (PSF) that was earmarked by Congress for “rainwater harvesting” facilities that can be used by local government units (LGUs) to fight another threat of El Niño later this year.
“In the 2026 budget, Congress allocated P1 billion for the PSF to help finance climate adaptation initiatives, including the installation of functional rainwater collection and storage systems that can strengthen communities’ resilience against potential freshwater shortages,” House Minority Leader Marcelino Libanan said.
In a statement issued on Sunday, June 21, he stressed that both LGUs and community organizations may access PSF financing for eligible projects aimed at reducing communities’ vulnerability to climate-related risks.
“Every liter of rainwater captured and stored today can help cushion households and communities from water shortages tomorrow. Investing in rainwater harvesting is one of the simplest, most practical and most cost-effective climate adaptation measures available to us,” he said.
Libanan issued the call as the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) warned that Metro Manila and 47 provinces could experience dry conditions in the coming months as El Niño develops.
PAGASA defines “dry condition” as two consecutive months of below-normal rainfall, equivalent to a 21 to 60 percent reduction from average precipitation.
Among the Luzon provinces that may be under “dry condition” by November are Abra, Albay, Apayao, Aurora, Bataan, Batangas, Benguet, Bulacan, Camarines Norte, Catanduanes, Cavite, Ifugao, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Isabela, Kalinga, La Union, Laguna, Marinduque, Masbate, Mountain Province, Nueva Ecija, Nueva Vizcaya, Occidental Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro, Palawan, Pampanga, Pangasinan, Quezon, Quirino, Rizal, Romblon, Sorsogon, Tarlac and Zambales. The same condition will be felt by several provinces in Visayas and Mindanao.
The PSF is administered by a board composed of the secretaries of the Departments of Finance; Budget and Management; Interior and Local Government; and Economy, Planning and Development as well as the chairperson of the Philippine Commission on Women; the vice chairperson of the Climate Change Commission; and representatives from the scientific community, business sector and non-governmental organizations. — With Miriam Desacada
