Inmates of the Cebu City Jail. | CDN file photo
CEBU CITY, Philippines — The Cebu City Jail-Male Dormitory has felt the effect of the El Niño as their water has become insufficient for the facility.
In a letter to Councilor David Tumulak, the deputy mayor on police matters, City Jail Warden Renante Rubio said that the water supply of the facility simply could not sustain the 5,721 inmates.
“Water insufficiency has become a major concern recently,” said Rubio in his letter.
Rubio said that the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BMP) has already provided additional water supply and even replaced the Water Booster Pump, but because of the El Niño, the supply is still not enough.
“Life depends greatly on water and any hygienic problem related to water supply scarcity can create havoc in the day to day activities, especially since we are rationing water to every dorm,” said Rubio.
Rubio asked Tumulak and the Department of Public Services (DPS) for a continuous additional supply of water to address the needs of its inmates.
For his part, Tumulak said they already coordinated with the MCWD to bring water to the Cebu City Jail thrice a week through water tankers.
Tumulak said that the city immediately addressed the concern of the City Jail in order to avoid any disorder in the jail because of the lack of water.
The Cebu City Jail, which is located in Barangay Kalunasan, is expected to feel the effects of the El Niño harshly because it is located in an elevated area where the water pressure is low.
“Gisolusyonan na gyod ni nato kay lisod kaayo if magpadayon nga walay tubig didto. (We provided an immediate solution because it would be difficult if they would not have any water supply),” said Tumulak.
Aside from the Cebu City Jail, Tumulak said that the city is also identifying the barangays that will need water to be brought to the area for the lack of a local source.
He said that they will be using the firetrucks of the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) to bring water into these areas on a scheduled basis in order to ease the effects of the El Niño. /bmjo