THE Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) said it expects to cancel 3,000 grants of water rights due to non-use, and redistribute them to new grantees.
“There are many water rights grantees that do not use the water that was granted to them,” Environment Undersecretary Carlos Primo C. David told reporters on the sidelines of Israel-Philippines Water technology innovations forum last week.
Water rights are granted by the government to private and government entities.
The DENR did not discuss the combined water volume these rights cancellations would free up. It did say that the cancellations will take place within the year.
“Once we cancel them, we are opening up the use of that water (to others). Because you cannot apply for a right when someone has it,” Mr. David said.
Meanwhile, Mr. David said the DENR is set to meet with the water regulator to discuss the water allocation for Metro Manila from the National Water Resources Board.
“For Metro Manila, I am in charge of allocating water for the different users of Angat, and the users there are MWSS for Metro Manila, and Bulacan (province) and both have increased their demand,” Mr. David said.
For April and May, irrigation water will be fully allocated, but the water allocation for Metro Manila remains under study.
Metro Manila’s demand has increased by 0.5 cubic meters per second, Mr. David said.
On Monday, the water level in Angat Dam declined to 196.50 meters from 196.82 meters on Sunday, according to the government weather service, known as PAGASA.
The dam has a minimum operating level of 180 meters and a normal high-water level of 212 meters. The latter is considered the ideal level with adequate safety margins during the dry months
Angat Dam is the main source of water for Metro Manila, accounting for about 90% of the capital’s potable water. — Ashley Erika O. Jose
