Water rationing is now being implemented in nine barangays in Virac, Catanduanes due to weak supply for almost two weeks.

According to the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO) Virac, water rationing is part of their strategy to manage the situation.

They prioritize barangays that need water urgently and provide them with water tanks until the supply is restored.

“So ngunian naga-strategy nalang po kami na ang dapat ang mga barangay na nagre-request samo tigsararo muna po na tangke and then kung kaya po na mabalikan, babalikan mi po iyan,” Mark Matira, Operations Chief of MDRRMO Virac, said.

The Virac Water District (VIWAD) said the water supply shortage is caused by the drying up of their three water sources, due to heat in the past months.

“Dried up na talaga, yung Cawayan na pinakadakula niatong source, ang capacity niya, not normal is 90 liters per second, dakula yan pero ngunian dae na ngane mag-15 [liters per second],” Gabriel Tejerero, General Manager of VIWAD, said.

VIWAD is now considering adding more facilities, including deep wells, if the rainfall continues to be scarce.