CEBU, PHILIPPINES — The dry season has begun affecting the operations of the Metropolitan Cebu Water District (MCWD), with the agency warning of possible water rationing as El Niño is expected to intensify later this year.
MCWD General Manager Atty. John DX Lapid said the Jaclupan facility’s water output has dropped significantly due to reduced flow from the Mananga River.
“So far, our supply has already been affected by the dry season. The Jaclupan facility’s output has dropped from 25,000 cubic meters per day to 21,000 cubic meters per day,” Lapid said in an interview.
The reduced supply has affected several southern barangays, including Inayawan, Bulacao, Pardo, and parts of Punta Princesa.
Residents in these areas are no longer receiving round-the-clock water service, with water pressure now low and supply mostly available during dawn hours.
“They are not yet without water, but instead of a 24-hour supply, they are already experiencing low water pressure. Water is now mostly available at dawn,” Lapid said.
Lapid explained that the decline in supply was caused by the drying up of the Mananga River, which feeds the Jaclupan facility.
However, he clarified that the current situation is not yet the full impact of El Niño, citing projections from the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).
“This is not yet the effect of El Niño. PAGASA said the stronger effects may be felt toward the latter part of 2026 until the early part of 2027,” he said.
Other MCWD water sources remain relatively stable, although the Buhisan Dam has also posted reduced output.
“The decrease in Buhisan’s supply is not that significant because its volume has already gone down from 5,000 to about 3,000 cubic meters. But this reduction is not due to the dry season. It is because desilting operations are needed in Buhisan,” Lapid explained.
He said desilting efforts have been hampered by narrow access roads and the lack of contractors willing to undertake the project.
Meanwhile, the Lusaran water source remains unaffected.
“Lusaran is still good. So far, we have no problems there and its supply has not declined,” Lapid said.
Still, he acknowledged that Jaclupan remains the most affected facility.
“The supply most affected is Jaclupan. In fact, according to our operations team, the Mananga River no longer has flow. It has already dried up,” he said.
Lapid added that MCWD is carefully managing the remaining water reserves in the area.
“There is still water in our weir, but we are controlling it so the underground reserves will not be depleted,” he said.
A weir is a low barrier built across a river to regulate water levels and flow. The Jaclupan weir plays a key role in storing and channeling water from the Mananga River into MCWD’s deep wells.
To address the shortage, MCWD has started directly feeding deep wells in Talisay City into its transmission lines.
“What we are doing now on the Talisay side is directly feeding our deep wells to consumers through the transmission line,” Lapid said.
If Jaclupan’s reserves are exhausted, MCWD may purchase additional supply from desalination plants in Mambaling.
“The water is quite expensive, but we will do our best. We will buy additional volume from them if needed,” he added.
Lapid also confirmed that water rationing measures are being prepared.
“Yes, we will implement rationing if necessary. We will deliver water through our water tanks,” he said.
Mobile siphon tanks will also be deployed in upland barangays such as Bonbon and Cambinocot.
A Mobile Siphon Tank (MST) is truck-mounted or stationary equipment capable of drawing water from rivers or ponds, filtering it through sand and chemical treatment, and producing potable water onsite.
“We will deploy at least three siphon tanks — two from MCWD and one borrowed unit. These will be deployed in Barangays Bonbon and Cambinocot,” Lapid said.
He assured residents that water delivered through the rationing program would be free of charge.
“The water we deliver will not be charged by MCWD or the city government. This is assistance during the dry season,” he said.
Lapid also clarified that not all residents in Cebu City’s mountain barangays are MCWD consumers, but assistance will still be extended to them.
MCWD and the Cebu City government are coordinating with bulk suppliers and nearby local government units to ensure water reaches upland communities.
Lapid also appealed to residents to help protect the deployed equipment.
“We ask the public to help safeguard the equipment when these are deployed in your barangays. Based on past experiences, wires, batteries, and fuel are often stolen,” he said.
Despite the worsening dry-season conditions, Lapid assured the public that Cebu City would continue to have access to water supply.
| Written by Caecent No-ot Magsumbol
