Santiago de Cuba, December 24 (RHC)-- Cuban Vice President Ramiro Valdés Menéndez called on authorities in Santiago de Cuba to take all the necessary measures to guarantee water supply to the population in drought-affected areas.

Also in Santiago de Cuba, Valdés Menéndez reviewed local housing and road construction programs.

The Cuban vice president was briefed on heavy investment programs undertaken by local authorities and the provincial office of the National Institute of Hydraulic Resources, to alleviate the drought effects, particularly after the Parada reservoir, which supplies water for 26 thousand families, is practically exhausted.

Valdés Menéndez insisted that the people must be timely informed on these and other efforts to materialize those investment programs.

Regarding the housing and road construction programs, the Cuban vice president learned that the annual plans were not fulfilled due mainly to delays in the delivery of imported construction materials. He insisted on the words spoken by Cuban President Raúl Castro, who urged to face and overcome problems with optimism, and called to work tirelessly and intensify efforts and actions, aimed at improving people's life.