Manila and its auxiliaries are facing an imminent water shortage crisis. High demand has not been coupled with enough rains the past months. 76% of Manila’s water come from Angat Dam. Some of its electricity come from the same source. One of the issues always raised whenever a crisis like this happens is one regarding supply priorities. Angat Dam is in Bulacan. Bulacan is responsible for taking care of Angat Dam’s watershed. Bulacan, though, does not get any royalty or taxes from its water resources. When times of shortage come, water supply for Bulacan and Pampanga’s irrigation needs are the firsts to be cut in favor of Manila’s water and electricity consumption. Manila, understandably, is the economic and political heart of the country.

This is the second half of a Probe documentary by Ricky Carandang which aired last night over ABS-CBN.

Do we always have to be reminded to conserve water?