The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) regional office here has deployed a high-capacity water desalination unit along with a water tanker to Biliran province to address the shortage of clean and safe drinking water in cyclone-hit communities.
In coordination with the Philippine Army’s 546th Engineer Construction Battalion, the unit was stationed in the town center of Almeria, directly serving affected families and evacuees.
“This equipment will address the urgent need for a supply of safe drinking water in the province badly affected by Severe Tropical Storm Opong. Among those heavily affected by the [storm] are the water system facilities of local government units,” OCD Eastern Visayas regional director Lord Byron Torrecarion told local media.
The desalination equipment converts seawater and other water from non-potable sources into clean, safe drinking water, which is an essential lifeline in disaster-affected communities.
“This intervention ensures that evacuees and affected families have access to potable water, helps prevent waterborne diseases, and sustains daily needs while permanent water systems are being restored,” Torrecarion added.
The initiative from the OCD complements the relief operations led by the Biliran provincial government and its municipalities, highlighting a whole-of-government approach to disaster response, according to the official.
(With report and photo from PNA)
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