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Official Publication of the Philippine Information Agency Bicol Regional Office, in cooperation with the RIAC-REDIRAS - RDC Bicol



Monday, September 26, 2016

Local governments, agencies join hands to ease water shortage in Sto. Domingo

LEGAZPI CITY, Sept. 26 (PIA) – In the wake of the local government’s declaration of state of calamity, officials and residents of Sto Domingo, Albay are calling for assistance to ease shortage of domestic and potable water supply in this municipality.

Mayor Herbie Aguas of this town has requested the provincial government of Albay and other government agencies for assistance to provide potable water to the affected individuals/families.

Echo Caceres, a resident of barangay Bical, said the wells they used as water source have indeed dried up.

"Please help the people and families there. When I got home we really have to look for other sources. The source has dried up,” she said.

Emma Ballesteros, a balikbayan from Japan, who had her vacation at barangay Fidel Surtida affirmed difficulty in water supply.

Lhen Vecilos, another resident, also said, “The wells that were once abundant with water have dried up.”

The provincial government of Albay in response has mobilized its Water and Sanitation Team (WATSAN) to deploy and assist in providing potable water supply to affected areas. Albay’s WATSAN has mobile water filtration units and 12,000 liter capacity water lorry used during humanitarian missions to calamity stricken areas across the country.

Likewise, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) is closely working with the Office of the Civil Defense (OCD) for the logistics and the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) for the distribution of safe potable drinking water to the affected population.

DSWD will be providing packs of bottled water as augmentation support to the LGU in its efforts to ease the impact of the water shortage on affected citizens.

“Water, especially potable water is a basic necessity — it’s a human right. We cannot afford any delays in the delivery of the support and services we provide to the people affected.  There have been reports that a water shortage also took place in the previous years, so this seems to be a recurring problem in Albay. We now recognize that this problem requires a more concrete and long term solution. We at the DSWD want to contribute to finding and implementing a solution,” DSWD Secretary Judy M.Taguiwalo said.

Efforts to assist the Albayanos affected by drought was also made in coordination with current Rep. Edcel Lagman of Albay first congressional district and Tabaco Mayor Kristel Lagman-Luistro.

Aside from the preparations for the water shortage, the department is currently stepping up its preparations in the province as Mayon Volcano, located in the heart of the province, continues to emit smoke. Although no volcanic earthquake is reported, the situation is still considered to be abnormal.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHILVOCS) continues to monitor developments. Mayon Volcano has been declared under Alert Level 1, prohibiting the entry of residents in the six-kilometer danger zone

As of now, DSWD Bicol has reported 23,140 individuals in 14 barangays affected by the water shortage.  The barangays affected are Sta. Meisirecordia, Fidel Surtida, Bagong San Roque, San Andres, San Roque, Nagsiya, San Raphael, San Pedro, Calayucay, Salvacion, Buhatan, Alimsog, Sto. Domingo, and San Vicente.(MAL/SAA/DSWD5-PIA5/Albay)

- See more at: http://news.pia.gov.ph/article/view/2571474617930/local-governments-agencies-join-hands-to-ease-water-shortage-in-sto-domingo-#sthash.MDJqcayJ.dpuf

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