BY DOMINIQUE GABRIEL G. BAÑAGA
BACOLOD City – The provincial government of Negros Occidental is preparing contingency measures for an impending dry spell caused by the El Niño phenomenon, as well as the end of the sugar milling season or “tiempo muerto.”
Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz said the southern part of the province is being closely monitored and reforestation projects of the national and local governments have been implemented.
One is the Special Use Agreement in Protected Areas (SAPA) in Cauayan town where a reforestation project is currently being developed by the local government for the next 25 years.
There are two more SAPA applications within the Northern Negros Natural Park as part of efforts to protect the watershed areas.
“We are trying to have more pilot projects for watershed areas,” Diaz said.
As to the Bulk Water Project of the province, Diaz said during the first or second week of April the final feasibility study may already be done.
Local government units that will subscribe to the project will have enough supply of water.
“Hopefully our wells will not be affected by El Niño,” Diaz said.
For the upcoming tiempo muerto, the provincial administrator said the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office has already set aside a fund for the vulnerable sector and measures are already planned for stocking of food and non-food items.
Tiempo muerto is the period between the planting and harvesting seasons of sugarcane./PN
