Water supply in towns across the province is dwindling as the prolonged dry spell brought by the El Niño phenomenon continues to plague Bohol.

The Municipality of Dauis is among those in dire need of water provision as the town gets water from the Bohol Utilities Incorporated (BWUI) which also provides water supply to Tagbilaran City and other neighboring towns.

In a survey, DYRD Balita learned that two barangays in Dauis are severely affected by the drought. Residents of the villages of Tutulan and Songculan are encountering shortage of water supply almost daily.

According to authorities overseeing water supply in the town, Dauis Mayor Miriam Sumaylo has directed that the municipality purchase water from Tagbilaran City and distribute this for free to barangays severely affected by the incessant drought to supplement the insufficient water supply from the BWUI.

The purchase of water from the city has been going on for two months to serve as remedy while residents wait for the normalization of water supply in their respective areas.

Reports have also indicated that water level in wells and the main water sources of the province are going down as well as the dry spell persists.

Dauis officials are encouraging residents to be more conservative in their water usage as it has been noted that water consumption has gone up during the period, particularly as residents may take showers multiple times in a day to battle the sweltering summer heat.

According to Anthony Damalerio of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDDRMO), water shortages are also experienced in the municipalities of Candijay, Batuan, Lila, San Miguel, and Talibon.

The PDRRMO’s operations continue to collect data from their units at the municipal level to assess the damages caused by the calamity, which was projected to last until the latter part of June, 2016.

The group is also set to distribute potable water across affected areas in the province and water supply to farmers.

The Provincial Social Welfare Development Office is also preparing relief goods which include rice and canned goods to be distributed in affected areas.

El Nino has pushed the provincial government to place Bohol under a state of calamity, as the persistent drought has already caused P312 million-worth of damages particularly in the agriculture sector of 27 towns. (with reports from Allen Doydora)