By Mae Singuay

More than 30,000 residents in Negros Occidental’s Himamaylan City were affected by water shortages due to the ongoing drought caused by the El Niño phenomenon.

Based on data from the Himamaylan City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO), a total of 30,825 residents or 8,507 families in Barangays 3, Carabalan, Su-ay, Buenavista, Caradio-an, Nabali-an, Mambagaton, and Talaban experienced water supply shortage as artesian wells have dried up due to drought.

The city recorded losses worth P2,414,586 from 104.95 hectares of partially-damaged crops.

This prompted the local government unit, together with CDRRMO and the City Agriculture Office, to conduct a joint monitoring on the damage.

Meanwhile, Himamaylan Mayor Raymund Tongson said they are identifying possible water sources and coming up with projects for the affected residents.

They initiated the MRTubig Express, which delivers clean drinking water to the affected households.

The city government is processing financial assistance, allocated from the Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation and their El Niño fund, for 75 affected farmers in eight barangays.

The city government initially turned over spools of heavy-duty water hoses to some cluster of houses in Barangay San Antonio for water distribution.

Village officials also conducted an ocular visit to barangays to check the arising needs of the community, and to come up with solutions.

“We are linking with the provincial government and partner agencies for a coordinated response to those affected by the dry spell,” Tongson said./MS, WDJ