WATER WOES. Cebu City Legal Office head Jerone Castillo answers questions from the local media during a press conference at the Mayor's Office on Friday (June 23, 2023). Castillo asked the Local Water Utilities Administration to intervene on issues affecting the Metro Cebu Water District, saying preparations for the upcoming El Niño may be compromised. (Screengrab from Cebu City Hall-PIO video)
CEBU CITY – The city government here has sought the intervention of the Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA) to iron out issues concerning Metro Cebu Water District (MCWD), a legal officer said on Friday.
Lawyer Jerone Castillo, head of the Cebu City Legal Office, said the Office of the Government Corporate Council (PGCC) has flagged down several bulk water agreements between private firms and the MCWD due to issues with the acquisition procedures.
Castillo said the city government has submitted its recommendation to LWUA to replace the chairperson of the MCWD board and two of its members, saying they failed to answer the water agency’s questions regarding contracts signed with private firms.
“What we did is, because of the urgency, we filed in person the documents to LWUA. LWUA has received it. We hope LWUA would resolve it soonest possible time,” Castillo said.
Amid the dry spell, Castillo said the city government wanted to ensure that there will be enough supply of water in Metro Cebu.
In May, city officials, including the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, outlined measures to lessen the impact of El Niño, especially to farmers and those who are living in upland villages.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said recent conditions and model forecasts indicate that El Niño may emerge between June and August at 80 percent probability and may persist until the first quarter of 2024.
In a statement, the MCWD said it has prepared a comprehensive plan to counter the looming threat of the El Niño, which could potentially disrupt the water supply in its service area.
“Desalinated water will serve as a solution to the impending scarcity of water supply, as the sea is not affected by dry spells,” the MCWD said. (PNA)
