El Niño dries up Zamboanga City’s water sources
Zamboanga City was placed under a state of calamity after water shortage hit most of its 98 barangays.
The Sangguniang Panlungsod passed the resolution after the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office reported that the Pasonanca River, which supplies water to the city, has dried up due to the El Niño phenomenon.
Zamboanga City Water District information officer Raul Rivera said they have implemented water rationings to 51 barangays because of the scarcity of water supply.
The Sangguniang Panlungsod resolution allowed the city government to use its calamity funds and also allowed barangays to use their Quick Response Funds (QRF) to mitigate the effects of El Niño phenomenon.
Malacañang provides P15 million for Agusan flood victims
Malacañang released P15 million in financial assistance to help residents in Agusan del Norte who have been badly affected by the recent floods last February.
Governor Angelica Rosedell Amante received the money coursed through the Socio-Civic Projects Funds (SCPF) of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
The funds will be used to purchase food supplies, medical assistance, cash aid and other non-food items.
Meanwhile, the United Arab Emirates donated P55 million of relief goods to residents affected by the landslide in Maco, Davao de Oro.
Social Welfare Secretary Rex Gatchalian said the UAE government donated 5,000 food packs and other non-perishable goods.
The landslide in Maco last Feb. 6 claimed 98 lives while eight other persons still remained missing.
ICRC donates water system to conflict area in Gingoog
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) handed over a new water system to residents of Barangay Alagatan, Gingoog City, one of the conflict-affected villages in Misamis Oriental.
ICRC communications officer Melrick Lucero said the new water system was built by the residents of Barangay Alagatan following a design made by ICRC engineers.
Lucero said the residents benefited with the construction of the water system through a cash-for-work program.
He said residents used to fetch water from a nearby spring but lost access when their village became a battle ground in the war between government troops and New People’s Army rebels.
