Dinagat Islands PLGU leads water distribution amid El Niño
By Renelle L. Escuadro
BUTUAN CITY (PIA) — With the entire province under a State of Calamity due to a severe water crisis, the provincial government of Dinagat Islands is leading the distribution of water to communities with limited access to water due to the effects of the El Niño phenomenon.
According to Millard Tawakal, supervising administrative officer of the Dinagat Islands Provincial Information Office, water tankers and fire trucks are being deployed to affected areas to provide residents with much-needed water for household use.
“The ongoing water rationing highlights the challenges faced by communities as prolonged dry conditions affect water sources and availability,” Tawakal said.
He added that this initiative demonstrates the importance of unity, rapid response, and inter-LGU cooperation in ensuring that every family has access to this necessity even during periods of water scarcity. “Through coordinated efforts spearheaded by the provincial government under the leadership of Governor Nilo P. Demerey Jr. alongside its municipal governments, fire stations, and other local responders, water is being delivered directly to communities in need.”
During a media interview on Aug. 27 in Butuan City, Gov. Demerey shared that aside from scheduled water rationing to affected barangays and in schools and hospitals, the provincial government provided emergency water assistance, or delivery of potable water to vulnerable and island communities.
He also disclosed some alternative solutions considered by the provincial government to address water security in the province, including drilling deep wells in areas with possible water sources using solar power.
The provincial government also bought three reverse osmosis machines, which may be used for desalination or the process of filtering salt and other dirty particles from seawater to make it potable and safe to drink.
The governor called all residents of the province to help conserve water, while the provincial government will continue to strengthen coordination with the national agencies for additional support and resources.
Meanwhile, the Sangguniang Panglungsod of Dinagat Islands declared a province-wide State of Calamity through Resolution No. GBE2-07350, series of 2026, following the recommendation of the Dinagat Islands Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council-technical working group due to severe water crisis driven by prolonged dry conditions due to prevailing El Niño phenomenon that dried up 50 percent of rivers in the province, serving as water sources of the local water districts and affecting over 18,000 Dinagatnons. (RLE, PIA Dinagat Islands)