Water shortage not felt in Mandaue, Lapu yet

Residents of Mandaue and Lapu-Lapu cities are not feeling the pinch of the water shortage yet.

As of yesterday, Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Paz Radaza said officials of affected barangays have not raised the alarm over the lack of water.

Ten out of Lapu-Lapu’s 30 barangays have been listed by the Metropolitan Cebu Water District (MCWD) as among the areas with low pressure to no water.

“Wala pa hinoon mi nadawat nga report nga dunay naglisud sa tubig, pero nangandam na mi kon ugaling maglisud gyud sa tubig dinhi sa among barangay (We have not received complaints about the lack of water yet, but we have been anticipating these),” said Pajo Barangay Captain Junard Chan.

He said he can readily call the fire department to fill with water the plastic drums that he prepared for deployment to strategic areas. Residents can get water from these drums for free.

Other barangays listed in the MCWD advisory were Babag, Calawisan, Suba-basbas, Marigondon, Maribago, Mactan, Punta Engaño, and Pusok.

No complaints from hotels and resorts on Mactan Island have been received either, said Lapu-Lapu City tourism officer Hembler Mendoza.

He said the hotels and resorts normally have other sources of water aside from their MCWD connections. They also have huge water tanks to ensure continuous supply for their guests.

Mendoza said he has not also heard from locators of the Mactan Economic Zone (MEZ).

Eric Monsanto, marketing and communications in-charge of Maribago Bluewater Resort, said they purchase water from a private supplier.

He said they also recycle their pool water through reverse osmosis for watering the plants and other domestic uses. The resort also has a reservoir and cisterns with which to gather rainwater.

In Barangay Punta Engaño, residents buy water from private suppliers for P2.00 per gallon and P5.00 per five-gallon container.

In Mandaue City, the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office estimated that water supply has diminished by only about 20 percent in three out of 27 barangays.

Felix Suico, head of the disaster office, said the affected barangays are Casili, Cubacub and Canduman.

Casili and Cubacub are served by a cooperative which sources water from a deep well while Canduman is served by MCWD.

“So far wala pay nanawag nato nga barangay captains for rationing of water. Wala pay niduol for help kay nagka water shortage (So far, no barangay captain has asked for water. No one has approached us for help),” Suico said.

He was concerned more with the fire victims who are temporarily housed at the Cebu International Convention Center (CICC) grounds.

The city government provides at least 16,000 liters of potable water daily to 2,222 families there. An equivalent volume is needed for domestic use.

“Every day we deliver through fire trucks eight times a day. Our fire trucks can carry 2,400 litters. But sometimes this is not enough,” he said.

“Naay ubang family nga mo-anticipate na daan nga mopundo gyud sila og pila ka containers maong makuwangan gyud atong rasyon (There are some families who store water in containers, which is why the supply is not enough),” he said.

He urged the evacuees not to waste water.

The heat has caused episodes of hypertension among evacuees who are 50 years old and above. No one has been diagnosed with heat stroke yet.

Suico said they have enough medicines for hypertension. Some doctors and nurses are also on standby at the CICC the whole day.