Give tax breaks to businesses that recycle water

MCWD URGES LGUS

The Metro Cebu Water District (MCWD) urged local government units to enact laws that would give tax incentives to establishments that recycle water.

MCWD General Manager Jose Eugenio Singson Jr., in a statement said this is one way to arrest the growing gap between the demand and supply of water in Metro Cebu.

“We may not be able to close the gap between the supply and demand as fast as we wish to but we are heading towards that direction. Metro Cebu’s fast economic development is a blessing but the increase of the water requirements at an unprecedented speed is an ongoing challenge for the water district,” said Singson.

The current daily water demand of Metro Cebu is now at 400,000 cubic meters which is higher that MCWD’s average daily production of 234,000 cubic meter

With its current production rate, MCWD admitted that they have only serviced 42 percent of the four major cities and four municipalities in Metro Cebu. Some areas do not have 24-hour water access.

Singson also appealed to the LGUs to encourage their constituents to conserve water during critical months or the period where high surface temperatures are observed.

“As Central Visayas braces for the El Niño phenomenon at the end of this year, we are urging all water consumers to use only what they need during the critical times. Conservation and recycling will help ensure our supply will be enough until the rains come back,” he said.

MCWD however assured that they are working to augment the volume of water supply.

Under the MCWD 2019 Corporate Plan, an additional 20,000 cubic meters of water will be infused in the water system from their water facility in Danao City.

An initial daily 10,000 cubic meter of water is being delivered from the water facility in Danao City to serve consumers in Compostela, Liloan, Consolacion, parts of Mandaue and Mactan island.

“”MCWD is also looking at an additional 19,000 cubic meters per day from wells lying on properties to be procured or leased by MCWD or some that will be donated to the water district,” said the MCWD media statement.

According to MCWD, the El Niño phenomenon is expected to affect their surface water sources in Jaclupan, Talisay City and the 104-year old Buhisan Dam in Cebu City. The dam’s supply are from the springs and rivers in the Mananga and Buhisan Watershed.

Meanwhile, the country’s weather bureau warns of warmer weather in the coming days.

Pagasa earlier forecast an 68 percent chance of the El Niño phenomenon occuring by the end of this year, between November and December.

Van Singson, weather specialist of Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) Mactan station, said the average temperature range in the coming days would be between 26 to 34 degrees Celsius.

The heat index is also expected to reach to a maximum of 42 degrees Celsius, she added.

She advised the public to stay away from direct heat exposure and drink plenty of fluids. /with Correspondent Jessa Mae O. Sotto