CEBU CITY – Mountain barangays in this city severely affected by the El Niño phenomenon have been placed under a state of calamity.
CEBU City government personnel conducts water rationing in an upland barangay due to lack of water caused by the El Niño phenomenon. (Councilor Joel Garganera)
The declaration was made through a resolution filed by Councilor Joel Garganera. The resolution was approved during a special session on Holy Wednesday.
“This phenomenon warrants immediate measures and intervention to help our affected constituents cope with this calamitous situation,” Garganera said in the resolution.
Putting mountain barangays under a state of calamity will allow this city to utilize its quick response fund for necessary expenditures to mitigate the impact of the dry spell.
The Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council recommended the declaration of the state of calamity.
According to the city agriculture department, 50 percent of production areas in this city have soil cracks due to lack of water. The drought has affected 506 farmers and 115 hectares of agricultural production areas.
The CCDRMC has been conducting water rationing in upland barangays.