Mt. Province town under state of calamity due to drought, energy crisis

Mountain Province. INQUIRER FILES

ROXAS, Isabela — The Paracelis town in Mountain Province was placed under a state of calamity on April 28 due to the “worsening drought, critical water shortage, and ongoing energy crisis.”

In the approved declaration of a state of calamity, Mayor Marcos Ayangwa said the local government unit “is mobilizing all resources to protect our people and minimize the impact of this crisis.”

“Immediate interventions include intensified water delivery operations, fuel support for essential services, strict water and energy conservation measures, and prioritization of health and emergency needs across all barangays,” he added.

Ayangwa told the Inquirer that the interventions were implemented to “ease the burden on constituents” due to the continuing oil price hike and drought, among others.

Officials in Paracelis began distributing family food packs to 7,500 households in the town on Tuesday, starting in the villages of Palitud and Butigue.

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Distributions are also set for Bananao, Anonat, Buringal, Bacarri, Bunot, Poblacion, and Bantay.

Free water distribution of two drums per week per household has also been set in the villages of Poblacion and Bantay.

The town has also approved the donation of a drum of gasoline or diesel to the Paracelis District Hospital as the local government’s counterpart for its water truck, to be used in fetching water from the source for patient use, “ensuring a steady water supply at the hospital.”

The underground water level has reportedly dropped due to drought.

A drum of gasoline or diesel has also been donated to the DENR Community Environment and Natural Resources Office for forest fire monitoring.

A “Libreng Sakay” (free ride) program for elementary and high school students is set to roll out when classes resume if the energy crisis persists.

The local government has reduced its operational energy expenses by at least 20 percent. /mcm