The Metro Cebu Water District is trying to rent and acquire new trucks to make sure that they are able to deliver water to areas hit by the dry spell. /CDN Digital File Photo
CEBU CITY, Philippines – The management of the Metro Cebu Water District (MCWD) is asking water consumers to remain sober and patient amidst the water supply interruptions now experienced within their service areas as a result of the El Niño phenomenon.
MCWD issued their appeal following reports that some of their volunteers who deliver water to the barangays have been experiencing harassment from the residents.
“We have received reports of some residents harassing and threatening the volunteers manning the water trucks or firetrucks resulting in some volunteers opting not to help deliver water anymore,”said a statement which MCWD released this morning, May 8.
The MCWD statement said that the harassment experienced by their volunteers “make our efforts to serve the areas without water supply more difficult.”
“We need everyone’s cooperation and understanding amid these very hard times,” the water district said.
“We encourage the public to be part of the solution through ensuring order during distribution and for patience and cooperation with the volunteers, who only have the intention to serve everyone.”
In their press statement, MCWD said that they are trying to mitigate the effects of the water shortage by sending water trucks and firetrucks to deliver water to the affected barangays for free. These trucks withdraw water from specific sources that they identify.
Since April 27, they also implemented a water rationing schedule in barangays with low to no water supply.
They are also in the process of renting more water trucks while they also await the arrival of newly acquired trucks to increase their water distribution capabilities during the dry spell.
“However, due to the continued dwindling supply from MCWD’s Jaclupan Facility, more and more areas experienced low pressure to no water even during the Rationing Schedule,” said MCWD’s press statement.
“As such, the back-up plan of having water delivery through trucks is the only chance of some areas to have water supply. We apologize for the inconvenience. Rest assured, MCWD is working nonstop in finding ways to ration the available but very limited water supply.”