P97 million aid distributed to Pinoys affected by El Niño

MANILA, Philippines — Filipinos affected by the severe dry spell amid El Niño have received P97 million in “relief assistance” from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

About 695,000 families or 2.9 million people nationwide have been assisted, DSWD spokesperson Irene Dumlao yesterday told reporters during a weekly forum.

Beneficiaries came from Northern Luzon, Visayas and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, Dumlao noted.

Dumlao said this was done under Social Welfare Secretary Rex Gatchalian’s leadership and his water sufficiency and food security programs.

These programs are Projects LAWA or Local Adaptation to Water Access and BINHI or Breaking Insufficiency through Nutritious Harvest for the Impoverished.

Last month, 166 residents of Patnanungan town in Quezon started building water harvesting systems and gardening projects through these two programs, Dumlao said.

From April 17 to 19, project beneficiaries underwent comprehensive training encompassing disaster risk reduction, climate change adaptation and practical skills for water harvesting, gardening, vermicomposting and hydroponics.

Biggest drop in Angat Dam

Angat Dam in Bulacan yesterday suffered the biggest water level drop amid extreme heat caused by El Niño and the dry season.

Its water level dropped to 187.13 meters or just 7.13 meters before its minimum operating level of 180 meters.

On Wednesday, Angat Dam’s water level was 187.65 meters.

The 0.52-meter drop also means that Angat Dam’s water level was 24.87 meters below its normal high water level of 212 meters, as of 8 a.m. yesterday.

Environment Undersecretary Carlos David said the 50 cubic meters per second allocation for Metro Manila will be maintained for the entire month of May.

Many areas in the country have reported a decline in their water supply, David noted.

“Most of them are concentrated in the west side of the country, from Ilocos, also in Bulacan, there were reports that the water level on the ground dropped,” he said.

“Palawan and Zamboanga City were the most extreme cases in terms of water,” he added.

Water supply from deep wells has declined based on reports from water districts, David noted.

Zamboanga City has been experiencing water interruptions since February, he said.

Maynilad Water Services Inc. corporate communications head Jennifer Rufo said customers need to manage consumption to help preserve Angat Dam’s water elevation, noting that the decision of the National Water Resources Board to maintain Metro Manila’s 50 cms allocation is no longer enough amid the current high heat index.

Agricultural damage hits P5.9 billion

Around 113,585 farmers and fisherfolk have incurred losses amounting to P5.9 billion due to El Niño as of April 30, according to the Department of Agriculture (DA)’s latest bulletin on El Niño’s effects.

Agricultural damage due to El Niño included 104,402 hectares of agricultural area across 12 regions with an estimated production volume loss of about 255,467 metric tons.

Of the total area affected by El Niño, about 75,873 hectares have a chance of recovery while 28,530 hectares will not recover.

The rice sector recorded the highest damage and losses at P3.14 billion, more than half of the total recorded losses, the DA noted.

El Niño damaged 58,226 hectares of rice farms, resulting in a volume loss of 129,350 MT.

Agriculture Assistant Secretary Arnel de Mesa said the 58,226 hectares of rice farms affected by El Niño is “not that huge” compared to the DA’s initial projected damage of about 120,000 hectares.

Government interventions such as the distribution of water pumps and rehabilitation of irrigation canals cushioned the impact of El Niño, De Mesa noted.

Based on the DA report, 616 water pumps were installed to augment water supply in identified regions while 847.8 kilometers of irrigation canals nationwide were concreted to boost water delivery to agricultural areas.

‘Danger’ level in 40 areas

More than 40 areas nationwide are expected to experience “danger” level heat today as the heat index in Pili, Camarines Sur and Metro Manila could reach 48 and 43 degrees Celsius, respectively, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration.

Areas that could experience a dangerous heat index (between 42 and 51 degrees Celsius) today are Dagupan City in Pangasinan and Tacloban City, Leyte at 46 degrees Celsius.

Bacnotan, La Union; Puerto Princesa City, Palawan; Iloilo City and Dumangas, Iloilo and Roxas City may  record 45 degrees Celsius.

Laoag City, Ilocos Norte; Aparri, Cagayan; Casiguran, Aurora; Coron, Palawan; San Jose, Occidental Mindoro; and Catarman, Northern Samar could experience 44 degrees Celsius. –  Bella Cariaso, Jasper Emmanuel Arcalas