ILOILO City Mayor Raisa Treñas met with officials of Metro Pacific Iloilo Water (MPIW) on October 13, 2026, to discuss preparations for the possible effects of a strong to very strong El Niño on the city’s water supply, including measures to increase production, reduce water losses and ensure distribution to affected communities.
MPIW Chief Operating Officer Angelo David Berba and other officials presented their El Niño Mitigation Plan during the meeting, outlining measures intended to minimize potential water shortages and prevent further disruptions to households and other consumers in Iloilo City.
The plan includes increasing water production, deploying modular water treatment units and addressing non-revenue water caused by leaks in distribution pipelines.
MPIW is targeting an additional 25 million liters of water per day to help offset a possible decline in production during prolonged dry conditions.
According to MPIW records, water supply dropped to 54.09 million liters per day in 2024, compared with an average of 80.95 million liters per day under normal conditions.
The figures represent a reduction of 26.86 million liters per day, or approximately 33.2% of the normal supply.
The previous decline was among the concerns discussed as city officials and MPIW representatives reviewed possible measures to maintain water availability during another El Niño episode.
Among the contingency measures considered were adjustments to water distribution schedules based on available production and the deployment of additional water tankers to communities that could experience supply interruptions.
The proposed distribution adjustments would depend on the volume of water produced, while additional tankers would help provide water to affected areas.
MPIW also identified reducing non-revenue water as part of its preparations. This involves addressing pipeline leaks that contribute to water losses within the distribution system.
The use of modular water treatment units was also included in the mitigation plan to help support water production.
MPIW said the actual impact of the anticipated El Niño on Iloilo City’s water supply has yet to be determined.
According to the water utility, the extent of any supply reduction will depend on the duration of dry conditions and the amount of rainfall recorded during the period.
The meeting focused on preparing contingency measures before possible water shortages occur, allowing the city government and MPIW to coordinate their response based on water production and distribution conditions.
The preparations are intended to reduce the potential effects of prolonged dry weather on Iloilo City residents and prevent water supply problems from worsening.
MPIW has yet to determine the actual reduction in water production that could result from the anticipated El Niño.
The city government and the water utility discussed the proposed measures as part of preparations for possible disruptions to the city’s water supply. (Leo Solinap/SunStar Philippines)