THE Department of Education (DepEd) and local government units (LGUs) are called to immediately prioritize rainwater catchment systems in public schools to prepare for prolonged dry spells and water shortages during the El Niño.
In a statement on Tuesday, Senator Lorna Regina B. Legarda urged DepEd and LGUs to coordinate with the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) in assessing suitable locations for installing modular rain barrels, roof gutters, and storage tanks.
These systems collect runoff from rooftops into covered containers for non-drinking uses, including toilet flushing and cleaning school facilities, Ms. Legarda added.
The El Niño phenomenon increases the likelihood of dry spells and drought, but the senator noted that rain may still occur in some areas due to tropical cyclones and other weather systems. She called on schools and LGUs to take advantage of available rainfall to create water reserves ahead of prolonged dry spells.
The senator’s call follows PAGASA’s warning in September that a strong El Niño phenomenon is present in the Tropical Pacific, and expected to intensify and persist until the first quarter of 2027.
“We have to make good use of the time and resources available to us,” Ms. Legarda said. — Francessca S. Abalos