Cebu province under state of calamity due to water shortage

The province of Cebu has been placed under state of calamity due to lack of water in different areas caused by the El Niño.

A report by Rida Reyes on News TV Live on Monday evening said the declaration was made during an emergency meeting of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) after many areas in the province experienced low water supply.

Cebu City was initially put under state of emergency because of the water crisis.
Agricultural damage due to drought reportedly reached  over P58 million while damage to livestock and poultry is over P22 million.

A report by Alan Domingo on GMA-7’s “24 Oras” said the Metro Cebu Water District (MCWD)has announced that the water supply at the Jaclupan and Buhisan dams remain critical due to the dry spell.

The Buhisan dam is the only surface water source of Metro Cebu. The MCWD's water production range from 5,000 cubic meters (cu. m.) per day during the dry season to 10,000 cu. m. per day during the rainy season.

Meanwhile, water at the Jaclupan Dam in Talisay City has dried up.

The Jaclupan and buhisan dams are two main sources of potable water of MCWD, which supplies water to consumers in the Metro Cebu area.

Water rationing has been implemented in upland barangays since MCWD’s ground water source is also affected by the drought.

“Ang ating ginagawa ngayon, magsisimula na tayo magrasyon, ibig sabihin papaandarin natin ang ating booster pump every Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday lang,” MCWD public information officer Charmaigne Rodriguez-Kara said. — Trisha Macas, BAP, GMA News