Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 11) — More areas in the country are suffering from the impact of the dry spell.
Albay province on Thursday was placed under a state of calamity because of damage to agriculture.
The Provincial Agriculture Office reported over P170 million worth of agricultural damage, affecting more than 5,400 farmers.
Heavily hit are the municipalities of Pioduran, Oas, Camalig, Polangui, Daraga, as well as Ligao and Legazpi cities.
Camarines Sur, also in the Bicol region, was earlier placed under a state of calamity.
Puerto Princesa City in Palawan is suffering as well from a water crisis, its water district announced Wednesday.
The water district has declared a crisis alert because of the drastic decline in water supply from Camp Uno dam in Barangay Irawan, the main water source.
From the dam’s average production capacity of 700 to 750 cubic meters per hour, it has declined to 112 cubic meters per hour as of Wednesday morning, according to the district advisory.
The water district will begin to ration water in most of the 66 barangays in the city on Friday.
Supply will be available only for 10 hours every day.
The Agriculture Department has reported about ₱4 billion in production losses nationwide as of April. Weather officials said the effects of El Niño will last until June.
