BACOLOD City – Over 15,000 residents in Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental, are grappling with a severe water shortage due to the scorching heatwave.
Joefil Sombilon, head of the Research and Planning Section of the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO), said in a radio interview over the weekend that nine villages in the city have run out of potable water sources.
The affected barangays are Carabalan, San Antonio, Cabadiangan, Mahalang, To-oy, Nabalia-an, Su-ay, Cabanbanan, and Libacao.
Despite relying on deep wells for water supply, levels have drastically declined, exacerbating the crisis.
According to Sombilon, affected households incurred additional costs as they had to buy water for drinking and household use.
Assistance from the provincial government has been sought to provide adequate water rations to affected residents.
Meanwhile, Negros Occidental 5th district Congressman Emilio Yulo III emphasized that the water shortage is not an isolated incident but a widespread challenge across the province.
Efforts are underway to distribute potable water to affected communities, with Yulo’s office overseeing water stations drawing from deep wells. (Watchmen Daily Journal)/PN
