Cebu City Councilor Raymond Garcia (left) says a stricter implementation of existing ordinances is needed to help address the issue on water shortage. | CDN File Photo / Lito Tecson
CEBU CITY, Philippines — Cebu City Councilor Raymond Garcia said the city needs to strictly implement existing water-related ordinances as Cebu continues to face supply shortage.
During the April 30 executive session of the Cebu City Council, Garcia agreed with the Metropolitan Cebu Water District (MCWD) that the city has to carry out political, social, and environmental interventions in order to conserve water.
One of these interventions would be the stricter implementation of the ordinance mandating newly-built houses and establishments to have an underground cistern to collect rainwater.
This cistern can be accessed through a pump and the non-potable water can be used for cleaning and washing.
MCWD had earlier asked the city council to help them in encouraging the public to collect rainwater and to conserve water as well.
READ MCWD seeks help of Cebu City Council in water dilemma
It was Garcia who invited MCWD to present to the council the state of water supply in Cebu during the April 30 session.
Garcia said that changing the mindset of people would take time.
He suggested that MCWD, in partner with the Cebu City Government, create an information and education campaign with schools and barangays to discuss on water conservation.
“Changing the habits, you cannot do it overnight. Change is something that people are hesitant to do,” Garcia told CDN Digital in a phone interview.
During the executive session, MCWD reported to the council the state of water supply in Metro Cebu which is now at 195,000 cubic meters per day compared to its normal supply of 250,000 cubic meters per day.
MCWD said that it is now looking into finding new sources of water such as the building of the Mananga and Lusaran Dams and the possible desalination plant in Mactan. / celr