MANILA (UCAN): The Diocese of Ilagan in Cagayan province, north of Manila, issued an urgent appeal for potable and clean water after the region was badly hit by Typhoon Vamco (Ulysses) on November 12 and floodwaters submerged thousands of homes when water was released by nearby Magat Dam.
An official at the dam said the high volume of rain brought by Typhoon Vamco forced them to open seven spillway gates to prevent the reservoir from overflowing.
“We needed to stabilise the dam’s water level. If we overload the dam and that overloading is prolonged, it could break,” operation manager Wilfredo Gloria explained.
The flooding, however, resulted in a drop in the clean water supply in the region.
Many residents, including Manila’s 14 million population, have been subjected to rotational water supply due to high turbidity (mud content) brought about by the typhoon.
“Please give us drinking water as the water available in our region is not safe to drink. We need clean water for thousands of Cagayanons (residents in the province) in evacuation centres,” said the diocese’s social action centre chief, Father Carlito Sarte.
Father Sarte also expressed concern that the lack of water in evacuation centres and hospitals may help spread the Covid-19 coronavirus.
“There is also a health issue involved here that may arise due to a lack of access to clean and safe water, especially during this coronavirus pandemic,” he said.
“The situation is still hard. You can manage for some days without food but not without water … People need to maintain hygiene by washing their hands to prevent the spread of the coronavirus … We really need water,” he said.
