Daven Tamayo

Puerto Galera declares state of calamity over fresh water crisis

Article (news)

Dennis Datu

ABS-CBN News

ORIENTAL MINDORO — A severe fresh water shortage brought about by months of extreme heat and the looming effects of El Niño has forced local authorities to place the popular coastal tourism town of Puerto Galera under a state of calamity. The Sangguniang Bayan on Monday approved the recommendation of the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (MDRRMC) to place Puerto Galera under a state of calamity, allowing the local government to tap its calamity funds to address the escalating fresh water crisis.According to Vice Mayor Rocky Ilagan, the municipality has been grappling with dwindling fresh water supplies for more than three months after mountain natural springs—the primary source of water for the local water district—began to dry up.“Sobrang haba na talaga ng init. Yung mga natural springs namin ay talagang bumababa ang tubig niya, humihina. Pero dahil sa El Niño, nag-worsen yung condition. Deep wells are heavily affected din,” Ilagan said in an interview.The crisis has impacted 11 of Puerto Galera’s 13 barangays, with some remote communities reportedly left with no available water sources at all.Ilagan noted that the municipality experienced a similar dry spell three years ago and had implemented preventive measures since then. However, he said the current situation is far more severe.“We have funds na inallocate for the past three years. Wala naman kaming naging problema diyan after that. But ngayon, sobrang init talaga, napakahaba na. Three months nang napakainit. Pumasok itong summer, tapos itong El Niño nga,” he added.With many households receiving little to no water from their taps, residents have become heavily dependent on water-rationing operations. Long lines of buckets, drums, and containers can be seen along roadsides and outside homes as families wait for water deliveries from tanker trucks.To provide immediate relief, the local government has intensified water distribution efforts and begun installing additional deep wells in affected communities.“Mabilis lang naming mai-install yun. At least magkakaroon ng tubig na magagamit sa everyday na pangangailangan. Though it&#x27;s not enough, it will help na makaraos sa maghapon,” Ilagan explained.Under the state of calamity, surcharges and penalties on water bills will also be temporarily suspended to ease the burden on affected consumers.Despite the crisis, local officials assured visitors that Puerto Galera remains open to tourists.In a statement, the Puerto Galera Municipal Tourism Office emphasized that resorts, hotels, dive shops, restaurants, and other tourism-related establishments have implemented water conservation and contingency measures to ensure uninterrupted services.“As a premier tourism destination, Puerto Galera remains open and fully operational. Our hotels, resorts, dive shops, restaurants, transport providers, and other tourism establishments remain operational and have proactively implemented water conservation and contingency measures to ensure uninterrupted services for our visitors,” the tourism office said.Meanwhile, local authorities are studying long-term solutions to strengthen the municipality’s water supply system, although these projects will require financial assistance from the national government.Among the options being considered is sourcing water from Tamaraw Falls, one of Puerto Galera’s most iconic tourist attractions.

A severe fresh water shortage brought about by months of extreme heat and the looming effects of El Niño has forced local authorities to place the popular coastal tourism town of Puerto Galera under a state of calamity.

A severe fresh water shortage brought about by months of extreme heat and the looming effects of El Niño has forced local authorities to place the popular coastal tourism town of Puerto Galera under a state of calamity.