Water shortage looms in Cebu

Local

A GROWING water gap looms over Cebu Province as demand hits about 350 million liters per day while supply only meets roughly half, raising concerns of scarcity as El Niño conditions intensify.

Provincial officials said the imbalance reflects long-standing infrastructure gaps, with several municipalities already experiencing supply deficits beyond 50 percent.

Engr. Aldrin Barade, head of the Cebu Provincial Inter-LGU Waterworks System, said his office continues to refine data on supply and demand, but acknowledged that many areas have long struggled with inadequate water systems.

Barade said the province is upgrading key infrastructure, including pipelines, treatment facilities, and pumping systems, to improve water delivery from sources to households.

He warned that natural springs cannot sustain long-term demand, especially as population growth and drought reduce water output.

He said the province must tap rivers and other surface water sources to secure higher volumes, but stressed that authorities must treat these sources before distributing them for domestic use.

“Limited ra gyud ang spring, so kinahanglan gyud ta og additional sources,” Barade said.

The provincial government operates two bulk water systems in Moalboal and Carmen, which currently produce a combined 4.8 million liters per day.

Officials are expanding both systems, with Moalboal set to increase output from three to six million liters per day and Carmen from 1.8 to three million liters per day.

Despite these efforts, supply remains far below total demand.

Officials observed that some local government units already consume more than half of their available supply, highlighting the severity of the shortage.

Gov. Pamela Baricuatro said the province has rolled out short-term measures, including a water tracking system and emergency sourcing from existing bulk water facilities.

She said the government aims to boost bulk water production to 33 million liters per day by the end of 2026 as part of its medium-term plan.

Baricuatro said the province has partnered with the University of San Carlos to deliver water technologies, including mobile supply units for barangays with limited access.

She also urged the Department of Public Works and Highways to start building dams, calling them essential for securing water during drought and controlling floods during heavy rains.

“These should have been built years ago,” Baricuatro said, citing the lack of dams as a factor in both water shortages and flooding during strong typhoons.

She identified Alegria as a priority area due to rising demand linked to energy projects.

She added that the province continues to evaluate proposals from private firms for additional bulk water sources, but assured that officials will prioritize public interest in any agreement.

Officials said the inter-LGU water management system strengthens coordination across municipalities, but emphasized that Cebu must accelerate long-term infrastructure development to close the widening gap.(MyTVCebu)