KIDAPAWAN CITY – Mindanao Development Authority Chairman Manny Piñol yesterday offered his own farm’s abundant water sources for his fellow earthquakes-stricken residents in this city and North Cotabato, calling on local leaders to be psychologically stable in dealing with emergencies.
“I have three sources of water in my farm – two deep wells and one flowing spring. Draw as much water as you need, it’s free!” Pinol said. Pinol’s over 10-hectare farm is located in Barangay Paco, less than five kilometers from this city’s downtown proper.
The MinDA chief announced his offer after learning that majority, if not all, households here have been bereft of water supply after the Oct. 31 earthquake damaged a major distribution pike of the Metro Kidapawan Water District.
The water utility unit said the repair works could entail at least four days – something that further alarmed residents who were reeling from trauma.
The city government of Davao and the interim government of the Bangsamoro region have started bringing in trucks loaded with bottled water for ration to tremors-affected city residents and those in others North Cotabato areas.
Piñol pointed out that while people “could get confused and lose focus” during crisis, leaders should not turn emotionally affected with aid-seeking constituents because such tendency would make them “lose the ability to objectively assess the problem.”
“I am requesting our local leaders not to be drawn into the chaos and maintain a clear mind and stay on top,” Piñol said. “In this situation, there are some needs by our people that could be provided locally,” he added, citing the availability of “free-flowing” potable water sources at his farm that can be fetched by tanker-trucks for ration to the needy. (Ali Macabalang)
