MANILA- Laguna de Bay can be an additional source of water for parts of Metro Manila amid the water shortage hounding the eastern part of the Philippine capital, its management said Wednesday.

The Laguna Lake Development Authority (LLDA) offered to increase the water supply it provides Maynilad to 300 million liters from the current 200 million liters.

“Ang permit na binigay namin sa kanila actually is 300 million liters per day,” Adelina Santos-Borja, department manager of the LLDA, said.

(We gave them permit to source 300 million liters per day.)

The Laguna de Bay is the largest lake in the Philippines and is one of the main sources of freshwater fish in the country.

Santos-Borja, however, noted that while the lake can be a supplemental source of water, it still needs to undergo a treatment facility.

"Very high ang potential ng Laguna de Bay for domestic water supply," she said.

“The raw water is there kaya lang hindi siya magagamit agad kasi kailangan ng treatment,” she added.

(The raw water cannot be immediately used since it needs to undergo treatment.)

Authorities have been studying ways to solve the water shortage in eastern Metro Manila brought about by the declining water level at the La Mesa dam.

• EXPLAINER: Why is there a water shortage in Metro Manila?

Water service providers have warned of water interruptions because of the lack of rain and rising demand.

• Water interruptions in Metro Manila to last throughout summer: Manila Water

Aside from the Laguna de Bay, Santos-Borja said there are also other “living rivers” nearby that can also serve as sources of clean water such as those in Pagsanjan, and Majayjay.

“Ang bottom line dito is yung water security is anchored of course dun sa source of water,"she said.

(The bottom line here is that water security is anchored on the source of water.)

• INFOGRAPHIC: Tracing the water shortage in Metro Manila