A rice field dries up due to heat and lack of water in Batangay Casalat, San Ildefonso, Bulacan on January 15, 2024. The lack of rain and water flowing through for irrigation in some parts of the municipality has left some farmers struggling and requesting for aid. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News 

MANILA — The government is currently working on at least 135 water projects in a bid to secure sufficient supply of water as the country experiences El Niño, according to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

Drought in 8 provinces, dry spell in Metro Manila as El Niño intensifies

The DENR said these projects will be opened to public-private partnership (PPP) as well government-to-government opportunities.

DENR Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga said her office has helped in identifying water sources where these projects are suitable to be placed. 

They are now coordinating with the local government units for the said projects. 

“Minapa po ng DENR ang lahat ng mga rivers and streams, ang surface water po natin... at minatch po natin ang pangangailangan sa mga LGUs at mga komunidad dito po sa mga surface water sources para hindi na po kailangang maghukay pa,” she said.

The Secretary expects 100 more water security projects, with each region in the country having their own. 

State weather bureau Pagasa earlier predicted that a “strong” El Niño may persist until February. 

It also expects that until April of this year, majority of the country may experience "generally way below to below-normal rainfall" with a "higher probability for below-normal [rainfall] in most parts of the country."

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