ZAMBOANGA CITY (MindaNews / 11 June) – Rains spawned by a low pressure area (LPA) caused the water level at the Pasonanca Water Treatment Plant here to rise to 74.28 meters, which is above the average or normal level of 74.0 meters, an official from the Zamboanga City Water District (ZCWD) said.
Reynaldo Cabilin, ZCWD general manager, Reynaldo Cabilin told MindaNews that as of 5 a.m. on Tuesday, June 11, the treatment facility produced at least 59.56 million liters of water.
The water treatment plant in Pasonanca maintains a target production of 58 million liters daily to sufficiently supply the demand of water consumers in the city, he said.
But in the last five months, the water level had fallen below the average level, causing water shortage in the city, he added.
“April is the most affected month by the El Niño phenomenon, causing lowest production,” Cabilin said, adding that 2024 has the lowest water production compared to the same period in 2016 and 2019, taking into consideration the calibration conducted by the Davao City Water District to ensure accuracy and reliability.
The Department of Science and Technology’s Philippine Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (DOST-PAGASA) announced yesterday, June 10, that the city was experiencing an LPA.
Today, June 11, the DOST-PAGASA forecast the city to experience rain showers, cloudy skies, and thunderstorms due to the LPA in the Zamboanga Peninsula.
Last June 7, Mayor John Dalipe ordered the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (CDRRMC) to prepare for the onslaught of La Niña, which is associated with above-normal rainfall conditions.
Elmeir Jade Apolinario, CDRRMC secretariat head, told MindaNews in a separate phone interview that yesterday’s heavy rains caused flooding in the Sto. Nino area in Barangay Putik and along Governor Camins Avenue fronting Maker’s Department Store.
Apolinario said the Department of Public Works and Highways and the City Engineer’s Office are addressing La Niña through flood mitigation projects like drainage slope protections and desiltation projects. (Frencie Carreon / MindaNews)