SOLSONA, Ilocos Norte – This town is under a state of calamity after 15 out of 22 barangays are experiencing a water crisis due to the El Niño phenomenon.
THE town of Solsona in Ilocos Norte is rationing water due to El Niño.
Mayor Joseph de Lara said that water rationing is ongoing in 15 barangays, specifically Barangays Mariquet, Talugtog, and Bubuos, as all their sources of water have dried up due to the extreme heat.
Lara said residents are being provided water by the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP).
“We declared our town under a state of calamity to enable us to use our calamity or emergency fund to provide sufficient and safe water supply for our residents,” said Lara.
The local government unit estimated the damage caused by El Niño to agriculture here at P7.5 million.
Lara said the BFP is having difficulty looking for sources for water rationing.
Senior Fire Officer 3 Venner Adena, municipal fire marshal, said that aside from residential houses, they are also conducting water rationing in schools, particularly at the Talugtog National High School and Solsona National High School, and local government offices.
Adena said that they are conducting daily water rationing operations using their two firetrucks and a truck from the municipal agriculturist’s office.
Adena said their third truck is on standby in case of emergency.