• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The San Carlos City government in Negros Occidental came to the rescue of about 4,000 residents of Sipaway Island, its prime tourist destination, due to scarcity of potable water supply amid the drought caused by the El Niño phenomenon.
Mayor Renato Gustilo said yesterday that they started the water rationing operations in Sipaway Island last week.
“We are sourcing water from the mainland through an underwater pipe going to the island,” Gustilo said.
After determining the extent of drought damage next week, Gustilo said they will decide whether they should declare a state of calamity.
Water rationing were also reported in some barangays of cities of Bacolod and Himamaylan as well municipalities of San Enrique and Hinobaan.
San Enrique town is now under a state of calamity while the city government of Himamaylan allocated P23 million from its savings in 2023 to help its drought- affected farmers and residents.
Himamaylan City Mayor Rogelio Raymund Tongson said that about 13 barangays in Himamaylan are now experiencing water shortage, among these are Nabali-an, Mambagaton, Su-ay, Malang, To-oy, San Antonio, Buenavista, Cabanbanan, Libacao, Cabadiangan, and Carabalan.
The El Niño damage to crops in Negros Occidental has further increased to P115.228 million, affecting 3,312 farmers, based on reports of the Office of Provincial Agriculturist.
In a report to Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson, Provincial Agriculturist Dina Genzola said that 2,737 hectares of crops, including rice and corn, in 153 barangays 22 towns and cities have been affected by the drought. | GB
