With the Virac Water District reporting that potable water from its three main sources has fallen in volume by nearly 50 percent, data from the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) confirms that lack of rainfall is to blame for the low water levels in the VIWAD sources.
Chief meteorological officer Juan Pantino Jr. of PAGASA Virac Synoptic Station told the Tribune that the total precipitation for the month of March 2026 came up to just 50.8 millimeters, a trickle compared to the 270.3 mm recorded in February and the 981.0 mm in January.
Based on the station’s records, last month’s total rainfall was also the lowest for March in the past seven years.
The previous years had considerably higher figures: March 2020, 188.0mm; March 2021, 257.3mm; March 2022, 395.0 mm; March 2023, 125.8 mm; March 2024, 125.1mm; and March 2025, 424.6mm.
Last week, VIWAD management informed its nearly 11,000 concessionaires that its three water sources at Cawayan, Padurog and Sibanjan are now in nearly critical condition “due to the high heat index being experience resulting to continuous decline in water supply.”
It said that in response, it has begun implementing daily valving operations and scheduled pump operations to manage and distribute the available water supply efficiently.
Aside from urging everyone to report any observed pipeline leaks, the management strongly encouraged them to store water properly and use it wisely during the period.
However, VIWAD management would need to do more in addressing this and other issues in water resource management, as found by two researchers of the Catanduanes State University in 2025, particularly concerning supply sustainability, policy implementation, community engagement, and climate resilience.
Dr. Bernardino C. Abundo Jr. and Dr. Ma. Concepcion V. Marquez, both of the College of Business and Accountancy, said in their study that the issue of water scarcity during the dry season highlighted the need for long-term water management planning.
“VIWAD lacks a sustainable program, and there is a gap in its approach to using alternative water sources and drought-resistant infrastructure, which are essential for preventing shortages,” they stated.
The researchers also found that there is no strong policy framework supporting Integrated Water Resource Management (IWRM), which is crucial for addressing interconnected water challenges across sectors.
“VIWAD’s focus is mainly on pipeline maintenance, missing a more holistic approach to water resource management, which could leave gaps in addressing community needs,” they noted.
Likewise, the study said that while policies focusing on watershed protection are in place, their effectiveness appears limited due to challenges in implementation and enforcement.
On the other hand, it suggested that current district policies lack the strength needed to fully engage communities in decision-making processes in sustainable resource management where local involvement is key.
“Strengthening policies to formalize community roles could enhance their sense of ownership and accountability,” it averred.
Despite acknowledging the impact of climate change, the study discovered no observable climate adaptation strategies in VIWAD’s approach.
While VIWAD ensures equitable distribution of water within the municipality, there is significant need for enhanced information, education, and public awareness programs, especially in barangays that serve as water sources, Dr. Abundo and Dr. Marquez stated.
“Increasing awareness among residents, particularly those in areas directly impacting water quality, can encourage more responsible water use and foster a community culture of conservation,” they said.
The findings, the researchers concluded, suggest that VIWAD’s current policy framework could benefit from adopting a more comprehensive approach that integrates sustainable practices, inclusive stakeholder engagement, and stringent enforcement mechanisms.
However, major challenges remain, particularly the lack of financial and technical resources, outdated or insufficient water infrastructure, which need increased funding and capacity-building efforts.
The research cited the impact of climate change on water resources as it has brought irregular weather patterns and extreme events that strain water infrastructure and resources in Catanduanes.
Among the other barriers identified by the authors were: inconsistent enforcement of policies and inadequate data collection and monitoring; population growth and increased demand for water; inadequate
treatment facilities and watershed protection; challenges in community involvement and public awareness on water conservation; fragmented collaboration among government agencies and political will; inappropriate land use practices; and gaps in the legal and institutional framework.
A separate analysis by a member of the Catanduanes Sustainable Ecosystems Development Inc. (ECODEV) posits that the situation in Virac is both real water scarcity and gaps in water resource management.
Water scarcity is driven by several factors, notably the drying of water sources, seasonal imbalance, and climate vulnerability, it said.
This is worsened by systemic issues such as lack of long-term planning, weak integrated water management, limited infrastructure resilience, financial and technical constraints, and reactive response on the part of management.
“Even with limited water, better planning and infrastructure could significantly reduce shortages,” the study insists.
To plan for a more sustainable water resource management, stakeholders such as VIWAD and the local government unit must consider a solution that considers a combination of new water sources, conservation and rationing protocols, typhoon-proof infrastructure, inter-agency coordination, and full adoption of the Integrated Water Resource Management (IWRM) framework.