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Davao City officials confirm stable water supply amid looming mega El Niño and urge residents to conserve water. DA‑Davao allocates ₱921 million to support agriculture, while DTI addresses consumer panic over water shortages.
Davao City officials have confirmed that the city's water supply remains stable during the early months of the impending mega El Niño, a severe climate event expected to affect the Philippines from late September until early 2027.
Davao Water Supply Stays Stable
City councilor Temujin "Tek" Ocampo, chair of the Davao City Council Committee on Environment and Natural Resources, told an Isyu Karon media forum on October 2 that continual monitoring by the Davao City Water District (DCWD) and the bulk water supplier Apo Agua Infrastructura, Inc. has detected no significant drops in river flow from the Panigan‑Tamugan system that could jeopardise potable water. Although a slight decline in river levels was noted, the overall performance of the primary distribution networks remains optimal.
According to DCWD and Apo Agua data, the city logged an average daily water consumption of 376 million litres per day (MLD) in 2025, while the bulk production capacity of Apo Agua stands at 681 MLD, with current deliveries approximating 340 MLD. The combination of robust surface‑water buffers and remaining deep‑well reserves - up to 350 MLD from wells 200 to 250 metres deep - gives Davao city the ability to meet daily operational demands of 350 to 400 MLD, even if surface streams dry up.
In light of these reserves, councilor Ocampo urged residents to store water, conserve it, and protect sources before conditions worsen, and warned against measures that would divert water to neighbouring local government units during the dry spell, stating that each community should prioritise its own needs before assisting others. In tandem with water‑supply measures, the Department of Agriculture Davao Regional Office (DA‑Davao) has earmarked a budget of ₱921 million to support the region's agricultural sector against the looming drought.
During the Habi at Kape forum in September 16, 2026, Joedel Leliza, the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Alternative Focal Person of DA‑Davao, outlined how the full allocation will be distributed. A ₱729‑million El Niño Action Plan is already underway; ₱66.3 million has been spent on procurement, and an additional ₱126 million has been requested from the national government.
El Niño Support and Market Monitoring
The action plan targets high‑risk farmland and aims to offset anticipated yield losses in drought‑hit zones by supporting farmers who transition to resilient crop alternatives such as watermelon, soybeans and other drought‑tolerant species. Leliza also highlighted that the plan includes the provision of veterinary drugs, biologics and feed to safeguard livestock and poultry from heat stress.
Meanwhile, a ₱40 million earmark will address preparatory measures to fortify infrastructure, while ₱9.9 million will directly aid production in vulnerable zones. In response to widespread consumer panic and hoarding driven by fears of a prolonged water shortage, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) issued a statement on October 1, 2026. The agency assured the public that the national bottled‑water supply remained sufficient and urged citizens not to stockpile more than they need.
DTI announced it is intensifying price monitoring, coordinating with manufacturers to ensure steady supply, and will impose administrative fines and legal penalties on vendors who overprice plastic drums, water containers and other essential commodities during the lean period. In short, while Davao City's water infrastructure shows resilience, authorities on all levels are taking proactive steps to protect both people and agriculture from the coming mega El Niño.
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