BUTUAN CITY (September 17) — With communities in Dinagat Islands facing a prolonged water shortage, the provincial government is putting PHP29 million into developing new and alternative water sources.
The allocation, approved Tuesday by the provincial executive committee led by Gov. Nilo Demerey Jr., is intended to strengthen water supply across the island province, according to Provincial Planning and Development Officer George Daligdig.
The funding will support the development of potential water sources in several municipalities, including the planned tapping of Sabang Dam in Cagdianao.
The dam project is being pursued through a partnership between the provincial government and San Miguel Corp. (SMC). Under the agreement, SMC will provide technical assistance, while the province will shoulder labor and other logistical requirements.
“Based on the agreement with the SMC, the counterpart of the province in the tapping of water from the dam is labor and other logistics,” Daligdig said.
Technical personnel from SMC are expected to arrive this week, with work on tapping the dam scheduled to begin this month.
But access to a new water source will take time. For residents already dealing with shortages, emergency supplies remain critical.
The Office of Civil Defense in Caraga (OCD-13) distributed 10,800 boxes of drinking water across Dinagat Islands on Wednesday. Each box contains 6.6 liters of potable water.
Daligdig said much of the PHP29-million allocation will go toward drilling potential water sources in different towns, aimed at securing supplies that can withstand prolonged dry conditions.
The twin approach—emergency water distribution now and investment in additional sources for the future—reflects the province’s effort to move beyond short-term relief as the water crisis continues.
