The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) is closely working with the Office of the Civil Defense (OCD) for the logistics and the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) for the distribution of safe potable drinking water to the affected population of Sto. Domingo, Albay.  Residents from the said municipality are currently experiencing a water shortage.

The office of Sto. Domingo Mayor Herbie Aguas has taken action to provide potable water to the affected individuals/families. The municipal government is now utilizing water equipment from the Provincial Government of Albay.

For its part, the DSWD will be providing packs of bottled water as augmentation support to the LGU in its efforts to ease the impact of the water shortage on affected citizens.

“Water, especially potable water is a basic necessity — it’s a human right. We cannot afford any delays in the delivery of the support and services we provide to the people affected.  There have been reports that a water shortage also took place in the previous years, so this seems to be a recurring problem in Albay. We now recognize that this problem requires a more concrete and long term solution. We at the DSWD want to contribute to finding and implementing a solution,” DSWD Secretary Judy M.Taguiwalo said.

As of now, there are 23,140 individuals in 14 Barangays reported by DSWD’s Regional Office to be affected by the water shortage in Sto. Domingo.  The barangays affected are Sta. Meisirecordia, Fidel Surtida, Bagong San Roque, San Andres, San Roque, Nagsiya, San Raphael, San Pedro, Calayucay, Salvacion, Buhatan, Alimsog, Sto. Domingo, and San Vicente.

Efforts to assist the Albayanos affected by drought was also made in coordination with current 1st District of Albay Representative Edcel Lagman and Tabaco Mayor Kristel Lagman-Luistro.

Aside from the preparations for the water shortage, the department is currently stepping up its preparations in the province as Mayon Volcano, located in the heart of the province, continues to emit smoke. Although no volcanic earthquake is reported, the situation is still considered to be abnormal.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHILVOCS) continues to monitor developments. Considering the state of Mayon Volcano,  an Alert Level 1 is declared in the province, prohibiting the entry of residents in the six-kilometer danger zone. ###