
Virac mayor requests clean water from PRC
VIRAC, Catanduanes Mayor Samuel Laynes requested water augmentation to the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) chairman and chief executive officer Dick Gordon to help hundreds of families in his municipality get access to clean water for drinking and sanitation.
The mayor said 2,307 individuals in three barangays are reeling from water shortage since September.
After a week, the number of affected barangays ballooned to 13. The crisis has forced residents to travel long distances or spend hours in queueing to collect clean water from nearby barangays.
The PRC, in response, immediately deployed two water tankers capable of distributing 12,000 liters of water, six pillow bladders, tap stands with waterpoints and one set of water treatment units to the municipality.
From September 26 to October 6, the PRC distributed approximately 200,000 liters of water to around 12,200 affected persons in barangays Hawan Grande, Tigbao, Pajo San Isidro, Casoocan, Marilima, Balite, Calampong, Talisoy, Sto. Domingo, Palta Big, Palnab del Sur, Sto. Niño and Sto. Cristo.
“The water tankers we deploy come with water bladders and tap stands to enable us to supply water to more communities in need,” said Gordon.
PRC Secretary-General Dr. Gwen Pang emphasized the importance of not only deploying the WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Health) resources but also training WASH personnel for hygiene promotion and equipment monitoring to prevent possible water contamination.