- 2 days ago
How prepared are Cebu’s communities for the possible impacts of Super El Niño, and what can households do to ensure enough water during prolonged dry conditions?
As concerns over rising temperatures and reduced rainfall grow, water conservation becomes increasingly important. The Metropolitan Cebu Water District (MCWD) plays a vital role in ensuring water supply for its service areas, while responsible water use among households and businesses remains essential in managing limited resources.
In this episode of Beyond the Headlines, we talk with MCWD about the possible effects of Super El Niño on Cebu’s water supply, the district’s preparedness measures, and practical steps residents can take to conserve water and help prevent shortages.
Join us on Beyond the Headlines. Look Deeper. Think Better.
As concerns over rising temperatures and reduced rainfall grow, water conservation becomes increasingly important. The Metropolitan Cebu Water District (MCWD) plays a vital role in ensuring water supply for its service areas, while responsible water use among households and businesses remains essential in managing limited resources.
In this episode of Beyond the Headlines, we talk with MCWD about the possible effects of Super El Niño on Cebu’s water supply, the district’s preparedness measures, and practical steps residents can take to conserve water and help prevent shortages.
Join us on Beyond the Headlines. Look Deeper. Think Better.
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NewsTranscript
01:23Then, everything else.
01:26What if one day you turn on your faucet and nothing came out?
01:31Good afternoon and welcome to Beyond the Headlines.
01:33I'm DJ Moises and today's conversation is brought to us by Coffee First.
01:37Cebu is preparing for what could become a very strong El Nino and MCWD expecting significant losses from its surface
01:47water sources and possible reduced water availability and scheduled rationing.
01:54But is El Nino really the reason Cebu is running short of water or is it simply exposing a problem
02:00that has been building for years?
02:03Let's look deeper and think better.
02:06Joining us today is Metropolitan Cebu Water District General Manager, Attorney John Lapid.
02:11So, Attorney John, welcome to Beyond the Headlines.
02:15Hi, good morning.
02:17Attorney John DX Lapid here.
02:19Yes.
02:19So, Attorney John, let's get into the most pressing question that a lot of our viewers and a lot of
02:25Cebuanos actually have.
02:27How serious is the problem?
02:31It has been projected by Pagasa already that yesterday, actually, we have a meeting with Pagasa.
02:39We were brief regarding the El Nino situation.
02:42So, we might experience dry condition by the last week of October and probably drought already by December.
02:51And it will extend up to the month of May by 2027.
02:57So, because of this, our surface water will be affected and some of our groundwater sources also will be affected.
03:05So, our estimate as to our surface water, there will be 43 MLD surface water that will be affected and
03:1421 MLD groundwater that may be affected by El Nino.
03:20So, yeah, because my next question supposedly is regarding the figures that you have presented.
03:25So, if we are to translate that to the impact of everyday Cebuanos or the household, what would 43 million
03:33liters per day shortage of surface water production actually mean?
03:40Practically, one cubic meter or one MLD equals to one household.
03:45So, if you times that by five, so five residents per house will be affected by the shortage.
03:53But despite of this possible, we say it possible because we don't know yet the actual effect of El Nino.
04:00We are planning to have replacement or additional supply of water coming from desalinated plants and new groundwater sources in
04:12our franchise area.
04:14And just to clarify, because at least it's comforting to know that there are contingency plants that are on the
04:22way.
04:23But just for context also, Attorney John, when we say we are experiencing a shortage, is that already a shortage
04:33that we are seeing today?
04:35Or is this because there is going to be a super El Nino?
04:40No, we don't have shortage yet right now.
04:43Okay.
04:44Because we still have rain right now.
04:47So, the shortage might happen by November and December and then up to May next year or up to June
04:58because there will be a lag according to Pag-Asa.
05:00It will reach June next year.
05:03Ang problema na to sa Huawei.
05:06So, we are saying that if, for example, the El Nino or the super El Nino will not happen or
05:14when the super El Nino will be done, then everything is already back to normal.
05:18So, that means we don't have any shortage at all.
05:23No, we have – it's not actually what we call a shortage problem.
05:28Maybe the right term is pressure management with our water because we actually have a lot of water right now.
05:40So, most of the areas that is affected by the failure of the water district to manage the water pressure
05:48and the distribution is the southern part of Cebu City and some parts of Talisay.
05:54So, it's not actually the shortage, but it's actually the failure to manage it properly.
06:02And from what we've gathered, and you can also correct me if the figure that I will cite here is
06:10not exactly correct, but I've actually heard that in terms of projections, Cebu's demand could reach up to 400 million
06:17liters per day by 2033.
06:19And that's just a few years away, while our current production meets only half of the provincial demand.
06:27So, how is our water infrastructure actually growing with, or at least growing ahead, with the growing demand of households
06:37and businesses?
06:39Our study, based on our study here in MCWD, the demand of our franchise area.
06:46So, if we say franchise area, it's from Talisay to Compostela, including the island of Mactan.
06:53The total is 600,000 cubic meters per day, the demand.
06:58So, today, as of today, our production is only 270,000 cubic meters per day.
07:04So, we are practically, we are supplying only about 40% of the demand of Metro Cebu.
07:13By 2030, I don't know, we are targeting to reach at least 50% of that demand by 2030 or
07:22more.
07:24So, you may ask, or our viewers may ask, the other 50%, who's supplying the other 50%, who's supplying the
07:34other 60% of the supply.
07:37So, there are five private suppliers, actually.
07:39Some, they have their own deep wells.
07:42So, we are not actually the sole provider of water in Metro Cebu.
07:49And then, there's also something that I'd like to clarify, and this is also your chance to say whether what
07:56I gathered is actually right or wrong.
07:59But we've also heard specifically about the decline in production from Aklupan because of the lower levels of water at
08:07the Mananga River.
08:08So, what is exactly happening there?
08:11Is this true or not?
08:12And how will this affect also the overall supply when one of the major stores like Aklupan is said to
08:20be drying up?
08:25Aklupan facility of MCWD is actually producing right now about 23,000 cubic meters per day.
08:31So, there's no problem?
08:32Yeah.
08:33There's no problem.
08:34The usual production of this is 23,000 to 25,000.
08:38But in the earlier times of this facility, it can reach as high as 35,000 cubic meters per day.
08:45But that is not because of the effect of El Niño.
08:49That is because this facility needs rehabilitation already because this has been built early 90s.
08:55So, it's been a bit difficult for the facility and it needs rehabilitation to bring it back to its original
09:04capacity.
09:05But right now, we're just controlling the supply of Aklupan facility so that we can reach,
09:13it's not zero, the Aklupan facility, and we can supply until the end of El Niño.
09:22So, it's producing right now 23,000 cubic meters per day of water.
09:26And now, if we factor in El Niño back and we are said to be losing, there will be gaps
09:33in terms of a surface water supply.
09:36And we also continue to hear concerns specific to non-revenue water.
09:41And for the benefit of our viewers, this is actually water that enters the system but does not become,
09:48they are lost along the way.
09:51That's why they're called non-revenue water.
09:53And the numbers that we have here, correct us if I'm wrong also, Attorney Jan, it's 30%.
09:58So, how much are we also effectively managing or even solving the issue?
10:08We're targeting to lower our NRW by 27% by the end of the year.
10:13Hopefully, we can achieve it.
10:14Actually, last, I think, August, we've reached 29%.
10:23So, I am very positive that we can reach 27%.
10:28Maybe you will ask, and our viewers will ask,
10:31what are we doing to work with the reduction of our NRW?
10:36Because when you reduce your NRW, that's additional water supply.
10:40Correct.
10:40And that's actually additional revenue for us in the Water District because 1% of reduction in the NRW is
10:474 million pesos of revenue to us.
10:49So, what we're doing is in Maktan, this is the area where NRW is very high.
10:56So, we already procured for the data lagers, pressure data lagers in the entire island of Maktan.
11:04And this is necessary so that we can monitor the pressure in our pipelines.
11:08And we can see if there are pipes which bursted and we can repair it immediately.
11:14We hired also additional personnel for pipeline repair for our entire system.
11:21We will be purchasing also additional heavy equipment for our repairs.
11:27Because for the past years, ang amung bakho in town sa MCWD,
11:31doha kabook, guba ang usta, and the other one needs repair also.
11:35So, we are in the hurry of purchasing two bakhos additional so that we can fast track the repairs.
11:44And then, recently, I think last week, there was a demonstration for us.
11:49It's a satellite-based leak detection system, Israel-based.
11:56They demonstrated to us and we're planning to procure this so that it will help us detect faster leak in
12:04our system
12:05and repair it in our system.
12:07Now, maybe the audience may ask, will ask if they're paying for the non-revenue water.
12:13Actually, it's not.
12:14It's different with the power sector, the other systems loss.
12:17But in the water sector, in the water district, we don't pass the non-revenue water.
12:22We shoulder it.
12:23And the required by LUWA to all water districts is to lower it at 20%.
12:29So, we're still very far from reaching 20%.
12:33But we did something right already because last year, last December, our NRW is 35%.
12:39And we lower it to 30% presently.
12:42So, Pag-asa is actually giving a warning that the Super Il Nino could intensify and persist until the first
12:53half of 2027.
12:56So, I know you've covered a little bit of this already.
13:00But I think at this point, we can just put things in a nutshell about what does this mean also
13:07in terms of the plans that MCWD has.
13:12Are we preparing for days or hours or weeks or months of interruption?
13:20And will this be going to be a prolonged water crisis?
13:27The planning, actually, for Il Nino started way back April when it was announced by Pag-asa that there will
13:35be a possibility of a very strong Il Nino.
13:39So, we have conducted monthly briefings with Pag-asa that we can prepare well for Il Nino.
13:45And this month of October, we have weekly meetings already for our Il Nino committee here in MCWD.
13:52And recently, initial plans, maybe, hopefully not, we will be scheduling our water supply, particularly in the southern part of
14:04our franchise area.
14:05And we will also deploy our water trucks.
14:09But don't worry, these trucks will not deliver water to your pail or your drum or your tank.
14:15We will deliver it directly to your stop-out through your meters.
14:20So, they will not be able to get out of water or a little bit.
14:22Then, we will also be coordinating with the barangays so that we will ask their help for their water tankers,
14:29provided their water tankers will be disinfected by the water district.
14:33And then, we will ask their help to deliver this water to our consumers and to the Cebu City residents
14:42also.
14:43And then, aside from that, we will be installing booster stations.
14:48We already installed one in the north.
14:52We are planning to install two.
14:54So, the other one is on mid-sway.
14:56We will also have one in Careta for central and one in the south.
15:00We're still looking for a location for our booster stations so that we will be diverting water from one area
15:08to another so that it can supply our consumers.
15:12And if there's something, and this is from an everyday person, Attorney John, and if there's anything that's supposedly comforting,
15:23it's because the Philippines is an archipelago and there's just so much body of water that's around us.
15:29So, can you also educate us further about how much of the desalination could supposedly contribute to correct whatever gaps
15:40there will be?
15:41And also, the context of how we can continue to grow our water supply with respect to the growth that
15:47we are also anticipating in the years to come?
15:53Actually, desalination is, the seawater is unlimited.
15:58Supposedly, yes.
15:59Your water district is actually starting its plan to work, contacting with partners, with suppliers regarding the establishment of its
16:11own desalination plan.
16:13We're studying already of having our own desalination plan.
16:17So, MCWD wants to be a future prepared because sooner in the future, our groundwater should be just a backup.
16:27It's just to be a backup for water supply of the water district.
16:31And our main source would be surface water and desalinated water.
16:35So, for El Nino, worst case scenario, we might purchase additional 10 MLB of desalinated water.
16:44This is a very expensive water, but your water district will sacrifice for that as long as we can provide
16:51not the entire supply of water that is lost due to El Nino,
16:56but at least the supply of water will be different from the supply of water.
17:00So, we have a desalinated plan with our private partners in Mambaling, one in Upaw Mandawe, and we also have
17:08one in Cordova.
17:11So, while going and managing the upcoming crisis and even the possibility of shortage in the future, if there will
17:19be,
17:19that's not only just up to MCWD, but also the households and the businesses will also have to contribute.
17:25So, in the context of the households, Attorney John, what would be the things that you would expect us to
17:31do in terms of conserving and managing our water supply in the households?
17:37I would like to ask for their understanding of the water district, especially our operations.
17:45Because El Nino phenomenon is, we cannot control it, but what your water district can do is actually prepare and
17:54mitigate the effects of El Nino to our water supply.
17:58And rest assured that we're doing our best, and I hope our consumers and our residents will do their best
18:03also to store water and preserve water.
18:07If you don't have enough water, if you don't have enough water, it's much better to save it and store
18:13this water.
18:14And then the other things, that's why I'm separating the households, because that's something that we have almost direct control,
18:21because it's just within our households.
18:24But in the context also of businesses such as hotels, restaurants, and even resorts, what do you think should they
18:32be doing differently this time, at least to get us through the Super El Nino?
18:41Hopefully, the resorts and hotels will not refill their swimming pools, because the swimming pools is really water intensive.
18:49And I hope the condominiums will stop those who are using their groundwater, their deep well, and connect with your
18:59water district, because it will help us control our groundwater, and stop the movement of seawater underground.
19:10Because of the too much extraction of groundwater, and controlled extraction of groundwater, later on, we can't get any groundwater
19:18in Utah.
19:21So I hope, eventually, the condominium owners, the property owners will be educated how important it is to control the
19:29extraction of groundwater.
19:30Because your water district, MCWD, we have groundwater, we have deep well, we have 147 deep wells all around Metro
19:38Cebu, but we control it.
19:40The quality of water, the extraction, it's really controlled.
19:44So, it's not easy to do that.
19:46So, the problem with private entities using deep well, they don't have the expertise.
19:52They're not even in science, in groundwater.
19:55So, I hope, Karong El Nino, maamguha na nila, and they'll stop using their groundwater.
20:01Anyway, your water district is here.
20:04Thank you very much, Attorney John, for joining us today.
20:07I know you have a very packed schedule, but you made time for this conversation.
20:11Salamat.
20:13Daging salamat. Mayungutu na itong tahanan.
20:15So, that was Attorney John Lapid, the GM of MCWD.
20:20So, water is a household problem, it's a business problem, it's a public health problem, it's an environmental problem, and
20:28ultimately, a development problem.
20:31And now, when we are moving towards the Super El Nino, which could last first half of 2027, this is
20:38also one problem that we all can and should solution together.
20:43Because only long-term planning, investment, conservation, and good water governance can secure Cebu's water future.
20:52So, I'm DJ Moise, shout out to Coffee First for supporting conversations that matter.
20:56Let's continue to look deeper and think better.
20:59This is Beyond the Headlines, have a good afternoon.
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