By Charissa Luci-Atienza

The House of Representatives will look into the impending water shortage on Tuesday, June 25, with Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo leading the oversight hearing.

Arroyo sought the oversight hearing as Angat Dam in Bulacan, which supplies water to Metro Manila and Central Luzon, reached critical level Saturday morning.

Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA) Acting Administrator Jeci Lapus has asked the House leadership to step in and find solutions for the Angat water. He batted for the implementation of long-term measures to prevent a water crisis from happening.

Based on the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration’s (PAGASA) monitoring as of 6 a.m. Saturday, the water level at Angat Dam has further declined, hitting past its critical mark for domestic supply at 159.78 meters.

READ MORE: NWRB to cut water allocation as Angat Dam breaches critical level

Arroyo, the first woman Speaker, counted on the officials of the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage Systems (MWSS), National Water Resources Bureau (NWRB), LWUA, and National Irrigation Authority (NIA) to attend the hearing on Tuesday at 10 am.

Also expected to attend the hearing are officials from Departments of Agriculture, Budget and Management, Environment and Natural Resources and Public Works and Highways, NEDA and water concessionaires Manila Water Company, Inc. (MWCI), and the Maynilad Water Services, Inc. (MWSI), among others.

Arroyo noted that the proposed creation of a Department of Water will be included in the agenda. The measure “will be evaluated by the committee for the next Congress to act upon,” she said.

Last March, the House leadership launched an oversight hearing on the water crisis affecting the east side of Metro Manila. This prodded Maynilad to open five of its surplus valves and Manila Water to supply 50 million of water to ease the burden of the estimated 1.2 million households in the area.

The House also adopted two resolutions, both principally authored by Arroyo, seeking to address the water crisis in Metro Manila.

House Resolution No. 2547 sought the formation of a technical working group (TWG) that would enhance and execute mitigation strategies to avert the occurrence of water shortage in Metro Manila and provide sustainable supply of clean and safe water for its citizens now and in the future.

While, House Resolution No. 2548 sought the formulation of a water security masterplan to secure and sustain the supply of water for household, commercial, and industrial uses in Metro Manila that may be duplicated in other parts of the country.

“The recent water shortage in Metro Manila serves as an eye-opener that warned government regulators to be proactive particularly in the dry season to address water service problems immediately,” it said.