EDITORIAL - Water crisis

For the Cebu City Council, the Metropolitan Cebu Water District (MCWD) needs to look for an immediate long-lasting solution to the serious water shortage problem in the city and nearby areas.

During its regular session last Tuesday, members of the council told the water utility that it is high time for it to look for real remedy to the recurring problem on the scarcity of water in its franchise area.

In her privilege speech, Councilor Jocelyn Pesquera suggested that MCWD should embark on a long-term answer to the water crisis. For the councilor, water rationing will not solve the problem.

There is really no need for the water district to be told about what to do to solve the water shortage. MCWD and its consumers know that during summer, water supply always would drop to its critical level.

MCWD already knows the ultimate solution to the problem. And that is to look for more sources of water to increase its supply. It does not have to look outside Cebu. The province has abundant water sources that the firm can always tap.

However, we have yet to see the water utility taking a giant leap to embark on a massive venture aimed at beefing up its supply.

While its franchise area comprises majority of Metro Cebu’s population, MCWD’s stock remains precariously inadequate. It cannot even provide enough supply to those in elevated areas even during the rainy season when it has huge reserve.

Now, tens of thousands of residents in Cebu City and nearby areas are affected by the water crisis due to the worsening dry weather triggered by the El Niño phenomenon. Water rationing is now ongoing. Next year, however, it will be the same problem that each consumer will have to cope.