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SAN FRANCISCO, AGUSAN DEL SUR, Philippines — Over the past 30 years, the once-degraded 1,658-hectare Mt. Magdiwata has gradually been covered with lush forest vegetation. But the green cover has not been enough to ensure a steady water supply as the ongoing El Niño reduces rainfall in the area.
At least 1,500 households have experienced limited or no tap water since the end of July, with elevated portions of three poblacion barangays and neighboring Barangay Alegria among the hardest hit, according to the San Francisco Water District (SFWD).
The rehabilitated forests of Mt. Magdiwata help slow runoff, allowing rainwater to seep into the ground and replenish the watershed.
READ: Deepening water crisis
