The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) will dispatch water filtration machines to La Carlota City, Negros Occidental, to help address potable water shortage after the city’s spring water sources were contaminated by ashfall during the explosive eruption of Mt. Kanlaon on April 8.
OCD Administrator Ariel Nepomuceno, who met with Mayor Rex Jalando-on during his visit to the city on Friday, April 11, said the local chief executive discussed with him the needs of the affected residents.
“We will send additional water filtration machines here. We have them from various regions and also from the OCD central office. That’s what Mayor Rex and I discussed. And if additional N95 masks are also needed and what else they need,” Nepomuceno said.
According to the city government, about 3,000 households or 12,000 persons affected by the potable water supply disruption avail of drinking water through rationing.
La Carlota has been receiving assistance from the provincial government, the cities of Cadiz and Sagay, and the Philippine Red Cross which have deployed water filtration trucks to the affected barangays.
Jalando-on said several communities within the surrounding areas of Kanlaon Volcano have experienced severe water supply disruption, particularly barangays Ara-al and San Miguel.
“The eruption resulted to failure of our spring water sources, compromising access to safe and potable water, placing residents at significant risk for waterborne diseases, and further compounding the challenges of displacement and recovery,” he said.
To further address urgent concern, Jalando-on said the city government is proposing the implementation of a project called “Restoring and Securing Water Supply for Affected Communities due to Mt. Kanlaon Volcanic Eruption.”
The initiative aims to construct alternative water systems, establish water access points, and ensure sustainable, long-term solutions for the provision of clean water to the affected population.
“We respectfully seek the support and coordination of the OCD in facilitating inter-agency collaboration, technical assistance, and possible resource augmentation for the realization of this intervention,” he said.*PNA