The Internet Reacts to Manila’s Alarming Water Shortage Situation
Mar 13, 2019 • Kyzia Maramara
We’ve seen the photos and they’re alarming.
But what are the facts behind this?
Metro Manila has two water suppliers, Maynilad (West Zone) and Manila Water (East Zone). They were both supposed to only draw water from Angat Dam, the metro’s major source. In recent news, it became clear that the east zone supplier, Manila Water, due to increasing service connections, went beyond their allocated supply from Angat Dam and tapped the La Mesa Dam resource eventually depleting it.
Maynilad, which distributes water to west barangays and neighborhoods in Manila, is still drawing their normal water supply from Angat Dam which has normal water levels. This is why people living in the west under Maynilad’s water distribution isn’t experiencing extreme water shortage.
But to those worried for the coming dry season, remember that La Mesa Dam isn’t our major and only source of water – it’s Angat Dam and Ipo Dam both of which still contain normal levels of water which can last us the entire summer.
First off, we’re just putting this here.
summoning circle, hope this works
🕯
🕯 🕯
🕯 🕯🕯 tubig 🕯
🕯 🕯
🕯 🕯
🕯— Halamans Of Manila (@HalamansOfMnl) March 12, 2019
This whole thread
Why is there a water shortage in Metro Manila? (A thread)
— Tonyo Cruz (@tonyocruz) March 12, 2019
JUICY.
Theories, theories
About 5-6 years ago, the plan to construct the Kaliwa Dam, seen to be a new source of water for Metro Manila, was supposed to be developed thru PPP and competitive investments. Come 2016, plans were scrapped in favor of funding the project with Chinese loans. Hence, the “crisis.”
— ⠍⠁⠗⠉ — (@mcspno) March 12, 2019
Metro Manila’s water services have been privatized since 1997. Both Maynilad and Manila Water have foreign partners. Both have been enjoying billions in superprofits.
Angat is main source (98%), not La Mesa.
China is entering thru Kaliwa Dam funded by China ODA.
— Tonyo Cruz (@tonyocruz) March 12, 2019
There’s no water shortage, Angat and Ipo reservoir our main water sources are Oks… La Mesa Dam is not actually our water source, it’s just a water storage.
It’s just our government, hinohostage tayo, para mapatayo ang foreign funded Kaliwa dam sa Quezon without opposition..
— #22 Neri Colmenares (@Dec1mot3rcero) March 12, 2019
That’s the tea, sis!
Survival of the craftiest Pinoys
Yung walang tubig…pati tubig sa pool pinatos. #ItsMoreFunInThePhilippines pic.twitter.com/K4OrMo5Eyw
— D U A N E not D W A Y N E (@iamduaneyBee) March 10, 2019
Good morning, kamusta naman mga walang tubig?
Punas punas nalang#WaterCrisis— John Carlos Catalan (@johncac_) March 12, 2019
It’s more fun in the Philippines!
Legit excuse
Walang tubig dito sa Manda, since thursday pa ako umiinom ng The Bar 🥺
— Reklamadora (@ReklamadoraAko) March 12, 2019
Imagine, tamad na tamad ka pero kailangan mong maghugas ng pinggan tapos pag bukas mo ng gripo walang tubig na lumalabas 😂#ManilaWaterEncounters
— SAINT LIAN (@okayjewel_) March 10, 2019
Can we also skip work and school?
Vote wisely
It’s high time to ask or learn about your leaders’ and candidates’ platforms and initiatives to combat impacts of climate variability and change. This should be their priority as it affects us all.#halalan2019 #PHVote #Eleksyon2019
— tacio (타쇼) (@tacioDelinquent) March 10, 2019
Metro Manila’s on-going #WalangTubig is the latest failure of water privatization
🚰 Outrageous water bills
🚰 Lack of sewerage services: human wastes, wastewater of 80% of households go straight to Manila Bay
🚰 “Bulk connections” for urban poor: more expensive, not 24/7 pic.twitter.com/ryZf4yaaDZ— KADAMAY (@KadamayNtnl) March 12, 2019
Looking for: a senator with a sound plan for the country and the citizens.
We deserve better!
Just HOW do you expect us to think about work ethic when we can hardly get to work given our shitty traffic and public transport system. And now we have to accept the fact that we can’t have a decent shower before going to work because guess what, walang tubig!
Etits. https://t.co/F0c8IDm60S
— Pauline Gaerlan (@paulinethequeen) March 11, 2019
walang tubig, walang pagkain, eh di magrebolusyon na lang tayo – from radical temptation island kasi hindi pwedeng isayaw ang mga ganitong suliranin!
— Tim Ong (@teamong) March 12, 2019
Is it enough to call Filipinos resilient? Happy?
Everything boils down to this
Don’t waste water ok
— Titas of Manila (@TitasofManila) March 12, 2019
If we can make efforts to live minimally, we can make efforts to save water. Regardless if the drought is real or we still have enough water supply to last us 50 lifetimes, conserve what we have now so we won’t have to go into a panic again in the future.
Always count your blessings, kids.
Hey Manileños, annoyed by the recent water shortage? Just so you know:
9/10 Filipinos don’t have consistent access to potable water
9M Filipinos rely on unsafe water sources
19M Filipinos lack access to improved sanitation
— Maoi Arroyo (@MaoiArroyo) March 11, 2019
How is this water shortage issue affecting you? We’d love to read your thoughts in the comments!
