Pamilacan Island, known for its dolphin and whale watching tours is now running low on water caused by the severe drought brought by the El Nino weather conditions.

Residents numbering more than 1500 who depend on rainwater stored in their water reservoirs are now coping with empty cisterns and expensive containers of water bought from the mainland.

Beach resorts in the island of Pamilacan have also been hit by water scarcity prompting guests to cut their stay short.

But Joselino Baritua, who runs the Dolphin Watch in Pamilacan said that the whale and dolphin tours were not affected by the scorching heat.

At the island barangay 12.5 kilometers from mainland Baclayon, residents told DYRD Balita that a five-gallon container of water that normally would cost 40 pesos is now sold at 60 pesos in the island.

But the municipality of Baclayon is providing water to the residents of Pamilacan at only one peso per five gallon container, according to Baclayon municipal councilor Rosendo Guingguing.

“We have no knowledge of how much businessmen sell their water in Pamilacan”, Guingguing told DYRD Balita.

But despite the shortage of water in the 175 hectare island, their saving grace is the increasing number of dolphin and whale watching tourists where majority of the Pamilacan residents earn their living. (Chito M. Visarra)