Metro Manila mayors to tackle proposals on temporarily banning businesses and other activities with high water consumption

Summer is only getting hotter here in the Philippines and there have been rounds of water service interruptions that added to the inconveniences of families and businesses. In Metro Manila, the mayors will be meeting soon to discuss key proposals to temporarily halt business and activities that consume a lot of water, according to a Manila Bulletin news report. The head of the Metro Manila Council (MMC) Mayor Francis Zamora, however, stated the possible regulation of water use which will involve the issuance of guidelines.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the Manila Bulletin news article. Some parts in boldface…

San Juan City Mayor and Metro Manila Council (MMC) President Francis Zamora said he will call for a meeting with other Metro Manila mayors to tackle the Manila Waterworks and Sewerage System’s (MWSS) proposal for local government units (LGUs) to temporarily ban businesses and other activities with high water consumption such as car wash stations and the use of inflatable pools in a bid to conserve water in preparation for the expected “strong” El Niño phenomenon.

“Magpapatawag po tayo ng pagpupulong kasama ang mga Metro Manila mayors para pagusapan ang mga bagay at hakbang na pwede nating gawin upang siguraduhin nga po na maregulate natin ang pag-gamit ng tubig ng mga establisyimento na malakas ang konsumo bunsod na rin po ng mararamdaman nating epekto ng El Niño sa mga darating na linggo o buwan (We will call for a meeting of the Metro Manila mayors to discuss the steps that we will take to ensure a regulated water use of establishments that have high water consumption amid the expected strong El Niño in the coming weeks or months),” Zamora said in a radio interview.

“Aaralin natin yung mga posibilidad. Yung mga nabanggit, these are (some of the) many possibilities that we can do. It is more of regulating the use kasi yung total ban naman, eh hindi naman natin agad agad masasabi ngayon na “o itigil nyo ito, i-ban yung ganito. We can regulate the use. Regulate means talagang magbibigay tayo ng mga panuntunan or guidelines sa kung ano ba ang pwedeng gawin (We will look at the possibilities. Those that we have mentioned, these are just some of the possibilities that we can do. It is more of regulating the use because it is impossible for us to immediately declare that these activities should be banned and must be stopped. We can regulate the use. Regulate means we really are going to issue guidelines),” he added.

The mayor stressed that despite the urgency of the matter, the MMC and all concerned agencies of the government must think about the livelihood of those who will be affected by the said proposal.

“We have to identify ano ba yung mga establisyimento na we consider talaga na malakas ang konsumo ng tubig. Necessary ba yung mga yan? Kailangan ba magbawas? Ito yung bagay na dapat upuan (We have to identify what establishments are considered to have high water consumption. Are those necessary? Should it be regulated? These are the things that need to be discussed),” Zamora noted.

“Merong effect sa both ends yan. Sa ating mga mamamayan at siyempre sa mga establisimyento na maaapektuhan. Gusto natin balansehin and to listen of course sa mga issues and concerns nila pati mga sentimiyento nila bago tayo gumawa ng isang hakbang para dito (These have effects on both ends. To us ordinary citizens, and of course, the establishments that will be affected. We want to find the perfect balance and to listen, of course, to their issues and concerns as well as their sentiments before we make a move on this),” the local chief executive explained.

On Wednesday, April 26, MWSS Deputy Administrator for Engineering and Technical Operations Group Jose Dorado Jr. identified car washes and the use of inflatable pools as high water consuming activities and said that the regulation of such activities and businesses should only be done by the local government units (LGUs) when the water level in dams becomes critical.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you think the Metro Manila Council (MMC) will go ahead with a temporary ban on activities and businesses that continue to consume a high amount of water during this hot season? If you own a business that consumes a lot of water, are you worried about a potential ban or stoppage of your operations?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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