‘Brace for possible water crisis before yearend’

MANILA, Philippines – Malacañang warned households and farmers to brace for a possible water crisis as the country could be hit by drought before the end of the year or early next year.

Deputy presidential spokesman and National Economic and Development Authority deputy director general Rolando Tungpalan said the threat of a water crisis was tackled in Tuesday’s Cabinet meeting with President Arroyo directing concerned agencies to implement measures to address the effects of a possible drought.

He said Mrs. Arroyo mentioned in particular the Department of Agriculture (DA) to assist farmers in preparing for any contingency.

“There is a threat of a possible drought later in the year or early 2010 so the DA is preparing for any contingency,” he told a news briefing at the Palace.

“We have to flag that (drought) to temper expectations (on the recovery of the economy). There are things, like the climate, that are out of our control,” he said.

For the agriculture sector, Tungpalan said those engaged in growing high-value crops would be less affected by any drought as such ventures use efficient irrigation systems.

Rice and corn farmers, however, would be severely affected by such a phenomenon, he said.

The Cabinet took note of an international report citing water crisis hitting India, one of the most populous nations in the world, due to lack of rainfall in certain areas.

“This climate item serves as a warning to the Philippines… The aberration in the weather worsens long-term trends,” a Cabinet briefer said. – Paolo Romero, Philippine Star