MONTHS of dry spell triggered by the ongoing El Niño have forced the local government of Manay, Davao Oriental, to implement emergency water rationing as local water sources dry up and degrade, regional disaster officials reported on Wednesday.
Speaking at the Davao Peace and Security Press Corps briefing at The Royal Mandaya Hotel on Nov. 4, Office of Civil Defense (OCD) XI regional director Ednar Dayanghirang revealed that residents in the municipality are currently relying on municipal fire trucks for their daily water supply due to prolonged lack of rainfall.
“The people were asked to bring buckets, containers, and drums beside their houses because the mayor and barangay captains are distributing water using fire trucks,” Dayanghirang said. “There has been no rain for months, and when it does rain, it rains very little.”
Dayanghirang explained that while the river serves as the primary water supply for Manay, minimal rainfall in the highlands causes the river water to turn brown and muddy, rendering it unsafe for domestic use and human consumption.
Aside from acute water shortages, rising temperatures have also begun affecting public health.
According to Dayanghirang, data from the Davao Oriental Medical Center showed around 100 heat-related medical cases recorded in recent weeks.
Dayanghirang urged households across the region to maintain water storage containers and practice conservation measures as weather models indicate intensifying El Niño conditions.
According to global climate advisories from the United Nations, there is a 99.9% probability of severe El Niño conditions occurring, driven by shifting prevailing winds—including the transition from the Southwest Monsoon (Habagat) to the Easterlies ahead of the cold Northeast Monsoon (Amihan) expected in December.
