By Jel Santos After the mayor of Virac, Catanduanes asked the help of the Philippine Red Cross (PRC), the residents affected by the water scarcity were supplied with potable water by the humanitarian body. Recently, Virac Mayor Samuel Laynes wrote to PRC Chairman Richard Gordon, asking the humanitarian body for assistance since the natural water resources in the area can no longer meet the municipality’s need for safe drinking water. “A looming physical water scarcity exists for a large part of the municipality of Virac as the results of an extended dry spell resulted in situation where natural water resources are unable to meet the municipality’s demand for safe drinking water and sanitation supply…In connection with the above, may we request for augmentation…,” Laynes stated in a letter dated Aug. 20, 2018. Due to the dry spell, the water sources of the Virac Water District had significantly reduced which affected the delivery of its services. Virac, with a population of 73,650 people, is composed of 63 communities and of the total number of communities, 23 are connected to the water district. The PRC chairman said he immediately instructed the deployment of one unit water tanker (W006- WQW 320); one unit water treatment unit (LMS); Onion bladders for water production; Pillow bladders, tap stands and hoses for water collecting units “I immediately ordered the deployment of our Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) resources to Virac and instructed our chapter there to establish a water production site and water collecting points. We have to produce 75,000 liters of water to provide the needs of the 5,000 affected residents,” Gordon said. As such, PRC has established a water production site in Barangay Poniton while water collecting points were established in Barangay Calatagan Tibang and Calatagan Proper. “Our chapter is continuously assessing other areas that will require the establishment of water collecting points and water rationing. It is important to establish water collecting points in the affected communities to ensure that clean water will be available to the affected people,” the PRC chairman said.