Cebu needs to ensure water supply keeps up with growth

CEBU, Philippines — With its ever growing population and economic activity, Cebu must work to ensure sustainable water supply into the future, a business leader said. 

European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines president Guenter Taus said Cebu needs investments in bulk water supply and waste water treatment.

These areas, Taus pointed out, need a holistic approach by its major cities -- Cebu, Mandaue and Lapu-Lapu.

"ECCP has, as early as three years ago attempted to address pressing bulk water supply as well as waste water treatment issues with the cities of Cebu, Mandaue and Lapu-Lapu," the business leader told The FREEMAN.

"However, the fusion of dialogue failed due to apparent lack of interest and initiative for the three cities to work together," Taus said.

But he stressed ECCP believes Cebu’s shortage in bulk water and sewage treatment plant (STP) "needs a holistic approach and a common and collective solution."

Taus urged Cebu’s major cities to work together before investments -- particularly financing -- can come in.

"While the EU (European Union) in general and individual member states have always signified interest (and funding), it must be said that the initiative must come from the three cities side," the ECCP president said.

He added the European business group had meetings with various local chambers in Visayas and Cebu on the matter.

"And we are all united when it comes to the point that action is needed," he noted.

The Metropolitan Cebu Water District (MCWD), the main water supplier in the metro area, had projected it would have 43,000 cubic meters of additional water supply in 2020 in order to meet the fast growing demand for water in Metro Cebu.

MCWD projected that Metro Cebu’s water demand will grow up to 416,000 cubic meters a day in 2020 and hopes to increase its total production to more than 350,000 cubic meters a day.

MCWD had eyed buying water from private suppliers aside from relying on its own production to meet the rising demand.