Albay Governor Noel Rosal is pushing to increase the province’s irrigation budget to as much as PHP100 million as El Niño affects irrigation systems and water sources for communities, raising concerns about the province’s next cropping season.

“El Niño is already being felt, especially in our irrigation systems. It is affecting not only our farmers but also our sources of drinking water,” Rosal said.

He said the provincial government plans to realign its programs and increase funding for irrigation projects, particularly rehabilitating existing facilities that can be restored sooner to help address potential water shortages.

“For now, what I am asking is for us to be ready because we may really need it,” Rosal said.

He also expressed concern over the possible impact of El Niño on the second crop of the wet season if water supply becomes insufficient.

Aside from irrigation support, Rosal said, the provincial government has provided an additional PHP40 million in fertilizer assistance to farmers to help cushion the effects of the dry conditions.

He said the province would prioritize rehabilitating existing irrigation facilities as a more practical intervention that can be implemented sooner.

Legazpi earmarks P14-M to mitigate El Niño

In Legazpi City, the local government is preparing PHP14 million for El Niño mitigation efforts as it strengthens measures for water security, agriculture, health, power supply, and emergency assistance amid the possible occurrence of a super El Niño.

The Task Force El Niño meeting, led by the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO), discussed the preparations with Legazpi City Mayor Hisham Ismail and representatives of concerned city departments and agencies at the Emergency Operations Center on Tuesday.

CDRRMO head Miladee Azure said the city would identify projects for immediate implementation and separate short-term and long-term interventions, including an El Niño rehabilitation program.

The City Engineering Office is conducting an inventory of manual water pumps and cistern tanks. It reported about 400 cubic meters of available storage capacity that can temporarily hold water for barangay use while water facilities are being rehabilitated.

The Legazpi City Water District will coordinate with the Bureau of Fire Protection to stock water in LGU-owned cistern tanks for domestic use, particularly in the southern barangays.

Mayor Ismail directed the sanitation and environment offices to work with barangays to identify surface-water sources, especially in the south, for use if regular supplies fall short.

“The cooperation should be there because at the end of the day, if they do not work together, nothing will come out of this. Everything will just remain a plan without output,” Ismail said. (PNA)