The city government of Himamaylan is ramping up measures to address the effects of the dry spell.
Himamaylan is currently processing the financial assistance from the city government’s standby El Niño fund and the Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation to aid the 75 affected farmer-families from eight barangays.
In the latest report by the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, the dry spell damage already reached P2,414,586, affecting 104.95 hectares of damaged crops.
The local government is conducting a joint monitoring, led by the CDRRMO and the City Agriculture Office, to constantly update its working data, its press release said.
The city also said that drought has affected the level of water from artesian wells supplying 8,507 families, or 30,825 Himamaylanons.
The Office of the City Mayor, in response, initiated an MRTubig Express, which delivered clean and drinking water to affected households.
“The city government is identifying possible water sources and coming up with projects to provide aid to Himamaylanons,” Mayor Raymund Tongson said.
Tongson recently led the ocular visits to barangays Cabadiangan, Carabalan, Mahalang, and To-oy to check the rising needs of the community, and come up with solutions.
The mayor was accompanied by CDRRMO’s Joefil Sombilon, and staff of the City Social Welfare and Development Office and Office of the City Mayor.
Tongson has also turned over spools of heavy-duty water hose to Brgy. San Antonio to aid in the distribution of water to clusters of houses in the area.
“We are linking with the provincial government and partner-agencies for a coordinated response to help those affected by the dry spell,” he added. ||
