Waterless town declares state of calamity

TAGBILARAN CITY — The Bohol town of Sierra Bullones has declared a state of calamity last week due to a water shortage, which the locals have said has been going on for the past couple of months.

Mayor Simplicio Maestrado signed the declaration based on the recommendation of the town’s Municipal Disaster and Risk Reduction Management Council (MDRRMC), said Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRMMC) head Dr. Anthony Damalerio in an interview Monday.

Sierra Bullones, which is about an hour and a half from Tagbilaran City, has continuously suffered from low to no water supply, according to Damalerio.

He added the affected barangays with no or low water supply are Poblacion, Salvador, San Agustin, San Jose, San Juan, La Union, Canlangit, Sta. Cruz and Villa Garcia.

Moreover, Damalerio said the possible reasons for the water shortage could be attributed to the El Niño and a mild earthquake that may have disturbed the water supply system of the town.

He said the province has just started the water distribution in the town last Saturday.

The local government unit has purchased jet-matic pumps and two fire trucks from the Bureau of Fire Protection and have started to ration water to the affected barangays.

Damalerio said the provincial government is waiting for word from the town government for help needed.