Cebu City lacks water, residents urged to help

CEBU, Philippines — Faced with about 15,000-cubic-meter deficit in water supply daily, Cebu City Councilor David Tumulak has urged all city residents to help in conserving water.

Tumulak had a meeting with representatives of the Metropolitan Cebu Water District (MCWD) and Mactan Rock Industries, Inc. (MRII) yesterday morning to discuss the depleting water supply of the city.

“Nagpatawag ta og meeting sa MCWD ug sa Mactan Rock para maklaro nato kon unsay sitwasyon sa tubig dinhi sa Dakbayan sa Sugbo. Ug na confirm sa MCWD nga depleted na gyud ang atong underground water supply. Naay 10,000 cubic meters of water every day ang kakuwangan sa tubig,” he told reporters.

There are barangays that have low pressure to no water from 6 a.m. to 2 a.m. the next day like Barangays Sambag 1, Sambag 2, and Cogon Ramos while Barangay Capitol Site does not have water from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.

In a press release, MCWD said the water district is willing to accept the additional volume from its bulk suppliers considering the daily water deficit in the daily production.

MCWD also welcomed the offer of Mactan Rock Industries Inc. for an additional volume from its different plants to the public.

“MCWD is ready to accept the 2,500 cubic meter per day in Mactan and 2,000 cubic meter per day from the Cebu City plant of MRII. Also, MRII offered to treat the wells in Apas that are affected by high levels of nitrate,” read a portion of MCWD’s statement.

MCWD General Manager Jose Eugenio Singson Jr. was also quoted in the press release that once the water district determines that the treatment price is acceptable, it will enter into an agreement with MRII.

MCWD has an average daily production of 238,000 cubic meters. With the dry spell, its daily production is now down to just 230,000 cubic meters per day.

However, the deficit is now about 15,000 cubic meters per day due to the lowering of the water levels of its Jaclupan Facility and the Buhisan Dam.

Tumulak said the residents of the city and the carwash companies should step up in conserving water to ensure that the mild El Niño will not bring severe impact to the city.

He assured the residents though that it will not come to a point that the city will no longer have water supply because there are private firms that are willing to help the city like the MRII and Pilipinas Water Resource Inc.

Tumulak said the MRII and MCWD will sit down in another meeting to discuss how the MRII will help in addressing the water shortage.

“Ang Mactan Rock (MRII) nagkasinabot ug ang MCWD nga motabang sila og supply og tubig diri sa atong dakbayan. Mohatag sab sila og tubig alang sa atong fire truck in case og dunay sunog ug mga tubig para pang bisbis sa mga tanom sa parks and playground,” he said.

In times of fire incidents, the fire trucks are allowed to get water from MCWD’s hydrants in Labangon, V. Rama N. Bacalso, Doña Rita Subdivision in Banilad, Mabolo, Barangay Hall in Lahug, Mormons Church in Lahug, and along Juan Luna Avenue.

The MRII is also opening its plants in Barangays Mabolo, Tejero, Basak San Nicolas, and Lahug in case of emergencies during fire incidents.

“Atong firetrucks atong gi awhag nga motuman lang sa mga lugar kon asa sila pwede makakuha og tubig kay kon dunay sunog, madiin diin ra sila mokuha og water supply, bisag asa nga fire hydrants. Karon, atong gilimitahan nga makakuha na og tubig ang firetrucks sa pagsupress sa sunog,” Tumulak said. (FREEMAN)