Cebu City secures new water sources, deploys tanks to drought-hit mountain barangays

Local

AS THE effects of the dry season continue to intensify, Cebu City Mayor Raymond Alvin Garcia announced that the city has identified new water sources in its mountain barangays.

He said the city government is ramping up efforts to ensure water access to affected communities.

“The dry season is more deeply felt in our upland barangays. That’s why we’ve identified water sources within these areas — so our tankers no longer need to descend to lower areas just to refill. This saves time and effort,” he said in an interview on Thursday, April 10.

Among the newly tapped sources are the Bonbon River in Barangay Bonbon and Mangyapyap Falls in Barangay Paril, located in the city’s south and north districts, respectively.

These were recently inspected by the Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CCDRRMO), which confirmed their viability as emergency bulk water sources.

Garcia emphasized the significance of these developments. He noted that, for the first time, water sources are now available directly in mountain areas, with water tanks strategically placed in barangays to provide new options for residents.

“We now have options on where to get water in the mountains themselves. This has never happened before — it’s only during this term that we’ve strategically placed water tanks in the barangays,” he said.

To support the initiative, the city has purchased five additional water tankers, adding to its existing fleet of five, bringing the total to 10 tankers that will rotate across the upland areas.

These tankers will fill up 100 large water containers —half with 4,000-liter capacity and the rest with 2,200-liter capacity —strategically placed along barangay roads where residents can easily access water.

The CCDRRMO reported during a meeting with department heads on April 8 that 13 barangays in the south district and 44 in the north are in urgent need of water tanks.

Aside from local water sources, bulk water suppliers Pilipinas Water Resource, Inc. (PWRI) and JE Hydro are expected to support the effort, with PWRI covering the south district and JE Hydro serving the north.

Garcia also revealed that the Metro Cebu Water District has committed to deploying its Membrane Separation Technology units, mobile equipment capable of purifying raw water from Bonbon and Paril, ensuring that the water drawn is safe for consumption.

The city aims to start the installation of the tanks and deployment of the tankers as early as April 11.

“We have new sources, new resources, and more support from bulk water suppliers. With all these in place, we can respond faster and more effectively to the needs of our people,” Garcia said.(TGP)