• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The municipal government of Hinobaan in Negros Occidental is constructing water impounding stations for farmers as part of the measures to mitigate the effects of El Niño phenomenon.
Mayor Daph Anthony Reliquias said on Wednesday (April 3) that he noted a drop in the water level of some southernmost barangays, with villages of Pook, Asia and portion of Bacuyangan, now experiencing water shortage in farms.
Still, Reliquias said they have enough supply of potable water.
He said that they are now getting supply of water from sources in Barangay Alim, using water pumps to supply water to the drying farms.
Two vehicles of the Bureau of Fire and Protection and the Municipal Disaster Risk and Reduction Management Office are also being used for water rationing, Reliquias said.
He added that they are preparing food assistance and possible cash aid for farmers affected by the drought.
As of March 27, a total of 178 farmers in 13 barangays of Hinobaan were affected by the drought, with damage to crops pegged at P2.5 million, a report of the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist showed. | GB
