• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The Cauayan municipal government in Negros Occidental is applying for a loan of P90 million to address the saltwater intrusion into the potable water supply of its three coastal barangays.
The situation, which could be considered an environmental crisis, is affecting about 400 households or about 2,000 individuals.
Mayor John Rey Tabujara said the barangays of Man-uling, Isio, and Poblacion are among the affected areas, where sources of drinking water have become severely saline, forcing residents to buy potable water from neighboring barangays.
In a press briefing, Tabujara said that they have already created a technical working committee (TWC) to look into the saltwater intrusion problem.
The TWC is composed of representatives from the Cauayan Water District and the offices of the engineer, health, assessor, agriculture, and mayor.
“We need to address this saltwater intrusion by exploring viable alternatives. Otherwise, it will continue to affect our constituents in the three barangays,” Tabujara said.
Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officer Joan Nathaniel Gerangaya said that the saltwater intrusion is the result of over-extraction of freshwater, which leaves the underground aquifers empty.
“Since seawater currents are stronger than freshwater from the mountains, saltwater intrusion is irreversible,” Gerangaya added.
Tabujara said that the water supply problem has been existing in the three coastal barangays since 2012, and has worsened due to El Niño phenomenon that started last year up to the first half of this year. | GB
