Manila, Oct. 6 -- The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) regional office here has deployed a high-capacity water desalination unit along with a water tanker to Biliran province to address the shortage of clean and safe drinking water in cyclone-hit communities.

In coordination with the Philippine Army's 546th Engineer Construction Battalion, the unit was stationed in the town center of Almeria, directly serving affected families and evacuees.

"This equipment will address the urgent need for a supply of safe drinking water in the province badly affected by Severe Tropical Storm Opong. Among those heavily affected by the [storm] are the water system facilities of local government units," OCD Eastern Visayas regional director Lord Byron Torreca...