• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The municipal government of Cauayan is applying for a P90 million loan to address saltwater intrusion into the potable water supply of three Cauayan barangays, affecting about 400 households, or about 2,000 individuals.
Cauayan Mayor John Rey Tabujara said the coastal barangays of Man-uling, Isio, and Poblacion are among the areas where sources of drinking water have become severely saline, forcing residents to buy potable water from neighboring barangays.
In a press briefing, Tabujara said they have already created a technical working committee (TWC) to look into the saltwater intrusion problem.
The TWC is composed of representatives from the Cauayan Water District (CWD), and the offices of the engineer, health, assessor, agriculture, and mayor.
“We need to address this saltwater intrusion by exploring viable alternatives; otherwise, it will continue to affect our constituents in the three barangays,” Tabujara said.
Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officer Joan Nathaniel Gerangaya said saltwater intrusion is the result of the over-extraction of freshwater, which leaves the underground aquifers empty.
“Since seawater currents are stronger than freshwater from the mountains, saltwater intrusion is irreversible,” Gerangaya added.
Tabujara said the water problem has been present in the three coastal barangays since 2012, and worsened due to the El Niño phenomenon that started from last year, up to the first half of this year.*
