PUERTO Princesa City—This city has been placed under a state of calamity due to the long dry spell brought about by the El Niño phenomenon.
The declaration came following an emergency session called Friday by members of the Sangguniang Panlungsod.
In the session, the Task Force El Niño presented its findings to the members of the Sangguniang Panlungsod, informing them around 90 percent of Puerto Princesa’s 66 barangays are now experiencing the effects of the long dry spell phenomenon.
Apparently, over a hundred farmers now need the support of the city government as their agricultural lands are dried up and can no longer be planted with crops.
The Puerto Princesa City Water District also reported that the water level in the Irawan Water Shed in Barangay Irawan has already reached the third level alarm.
City Information Officer Richard Ligad said this means the water supply that comes from the dam in Irawan is no longer enough for consumers even if there is an ongoing water rationing.
Ligad said the Sangguniang Panlungsod to use P20 million as calamity fund and for the purchase of two lorry trucks as support to the PPCWD in rationing water.
It will also be used to support the Bureau of Fire Protection as well as the health department.
He furthered that the city government will also speed up the processing of documents for the purchase of the said equipment for use of the agencies concerned.