BACOLOD City – More than 30,000 residents of Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental were affected by water shortages due to the ongoing drought brought on by the El Niño phenomenon.
A total of 30,825 residents or 8,507 families in Barangays 3, Carabalan, Su-ay, Buenavista, Caradio-an, Nabali-an, Mambagaton, and Talaban experienced water supply shortages as artesian wells dried up, City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO) data showed.
The city recorded losses worth P2,414,586 from 104.95 hectares of partially damaged crops.
This prompted the local government unit, together with CDRRMO and the City Agriculture Office, to conduct joint monitoring of the damage.
Mayor Raymund Tongson said they are identifying possible water sources and coming up with projects for the affected residents.
The city government has initiated the MRTubig Express, which delivers clean drinking water to the affected households.
Financial assistance, allocated from the Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation, for 75 affected farmers in eight barangays is currently being processed.
The city government initially turned over spools of heavy-duty water hoses to some clusters of houses in Barangay San Antonio for water distribution.
Local officials also conducted an ocular visit to barangays to check on the arising needs of the community and come up with solutions.
“We are linking with the provincial government and partner agencies for a coordinated response to those affected by the dry spell,” Tongson said./PN