Residents line up for water at the Dinagat Islands. Photo courtesy of Governor Nilo Demerey Jr.
MANILA -- The province of Dinagat Islands in the Caraga Region has been placed under a state of calamity as a worsening water crisis, fueled by the El Niño phenomenon, continues to threaten residents and vital services.
In a phone interview with ABS-CBN News, Dinagat Islands Governor Nilo Demerey Jr. said around 18,000 residents are now affected by the dwindling water supply.
Demerey said about 50 percent of the rivers serving as major water sources for the local water district have already dried up, with communities in elevated areas bearing the brunt of the crisis.
There have also been numerous forest fires reported in various parts of the province, further worsening the impact of the prolonged dry spell.
““yung mga sakahan nila nasusunog, yung ibang mangingisda medyo nag-down yung kanilang kita, at saka medyo marami yung eskwelahan, nirarasyonan natin ang tubig. Yung ospital natin, nirarasyonan, at yung iba nirarasyonan” Demerey said.
The provincial government, together with Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) water trucks, is now conducting water rationing operations in communities severely affected by the shortage.
Residents have reportedly been experiencing the water supply crisis for more than a month, as the province continues to endure prolonged dry conditions with little to no rainfall.
Officials fear the situation could further deteriorate in the coming days as the effects of El Niño intensify.
Demerey had earlier sought the declaration of a state of calamity before the Sangguniang Panlalawigan to allow the provincial government to mobilize additional resources and respond more aggressively to the worsening drought.
With the declaration now in place, the provincial government can tap its ₱17 million Quick Response Fund to provide immediate assistance and address the urgent needs of communities affected by the severe drought and water shortage in Dinagat Islands.