Still no water in worst-hit parts of Iligan, CDO

MANILA, Philippines – As the world gears up for the New Year celebrations, residents of the worst-hit areas of the cities of Iligan and Cagayan de Oro continue to grapple with the most basic of human needs: water.

Local water authorities say major pipes burst during the flooding and that will take time to fix.

Without water, sanitation is a problem, particularly in crowded evacuation camps. Where tap water is available, contamination is a concern.

Weeks after typhoon Sendong hit the city, Cagayan de Oro’s business district is among the waterless areas and this is affecting local businesses tremendously.

“Even here in the downtown now, we don’t have water,” said Ruben Vegafria, former president of the Cagayan de Oro Chamber of Commerce & Industry Foundation, Inc. “You only have water in the other subdivisions but inside the central business district area you still don’t have water.”

To cope with the problem, local businesses haul water by the tankers. “Every day, I have to send at least 3 or 4 tankers … at least 50% of the revenues we are receiving on a daily basis are lost,” said Vegafria, a McDonald’s franchise owner.

The government estimates the damage at P1.5 billion, but without water and electricity, businesses say the loss is increasing daily. – Rappler.com