THE Philippine National Police (PNP) reminded the public on Tuesday, March 12, to keep their cool amid the limited supply of water in several parts of Metro Manila.

“Sa lahat ng ating mga kababayan ngayon na nasa pila balde at mainit ang ulo, amin pong pakiusap ay panatilihin po natin ang kaayusan ang kahinahunan ng mga isip at damdamin (To all those who are lining up to get water and are short-tempered, we ask that you keep cool),” PNP spokesperson Colonel Bernard Banac said.

Banac said police forces are ready to assist the local government units whenever necessary during the distribution of water supply, which is usually done by the Bureau of Fire Protection.

Several areas in Marikina, Pasig, Quezon City, Taguig, Mandaluyong, San Juan and Rizal province have been experiencing limited to totally no water supply since March 7 due to reported lack of supply from Manila Water.

Manila Water reported that the level of water in La Mesa Dam, its main source, has been declining due to the onset of El Niño.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said that as of March 11, the water level in La Mesa Dam was at 68.93 meters from the 69-meter critical low level.

Agriculture Secretary Manny Piñol said he already coordinated with concerned agencies, including the Philippine Army, for the possible cloud-seeding in some areas in Bulacan, Pampanga and Rizal.

Cloud-seeding is the process of adding chemicals to clouds to produce rain. Piñol said this will help fill up the La Mesa Dam. (Third Anne Peralta-Malonzo/SunStar Philippines)