Cebu City prepares for increased water demand, traffic congestion

A typical scene during school opening, with students participating in the flag raising ceremony. (CDN FILE PHOTO)

The  (CCTO) will field additional personnel to augment existing traffic enforcers, especially in schools located along major traffic routes.

This is in anticipation of an increase in vehicles on the streets with the opening of classes today.

On the other hand, the Metropolitan Cebu Water District (MCWD) is urging its consumers to store water during off-peak hours because they are still reeling from the effects of the drought on water supply, although the water tables are slowly being replenished by the onset of the rainy season.

MORE ENFORCERS

CCTO acting department head Rafael Yap said they are now ready for Oplan Balik Skwela and will deploy a total of 71 additional personnel in selected areas.

“We’re all good. Except that we need to know and assess. We will have a post-assessment after the first day (of classes) to find out which areas we’re lacking in order to compensate,” he said.

There are 32 schools in urban Cebu City. Yap said they will focus on some hotspot areas like the Banilad-Talamban road, which is on top of their priority list, Mango Ave., Juana Osmeña St., Osmeña Blvd. and N. Bacalso Ave.

Yap said that although Acting Mayor Margarita Osmeña already lifted her earlier memorandum recalling all leaves of absences of city hall employees, CCTO personnel were still ordered not to take leaves on the first week of the opening of classes.

“We need everyone on the streets,” he said.

He advised parents and motorists bringing their children to school to leave early and plan their trips and avoid possible congested areas.

No rerouting schemes are being considered for now by the CCTO but this may have to be resorted to, depending on their assessment of the traffic situation today.

WATER SUPPLY

Meanwhile, MCWD said they will also be conducting water quality testing in public schools in the city this week.

With demand for water expected to increase with the opening of classes, MCWD appealed to its consumers to continue storing water during off-peak hours since their water supply has not yet normalized even with the recent rains.

“The recent rains were not enough to recharge the aquifers. It will take months of consistent rainfall before the water supply will be back to normal. However, it has helped lessen the use of water because people will no longer water their plants and firetrucks will also minimize withdrawal of water from our hydrants which has affected the pressure of water,” said MCWD acting general manager Engr. Noel Dalena in a press statement.

MCWD’s facility in Jaclupan, Talisay City has also improved its production from 6,000 cubic meters per day to 10,000 cubic meters daily.

But it’s still far from the facility’s normal production of around 30,000 cubic meters.

The MCWD is also looking for ways to bring additional water supply from the north to downtown Cebu City.

Engr. Edgar Ortega, MCWD’s production and distribution department acting manager, said they’ve acquired additional bulk water.

Abejo Waters Corp. (AWC), one of MCWD’s bulk water supplier, started supplying an additional 6,000 cubic meters of water from its wells in Cabancalan, Mandaue City.

Ortega explained that the Cabancalan area used to be supplied by their reservoir in Barangay Talamban in Cebu City. But with the additional supply from AWC, the supply from Talamban will be diverted to downtown Cebu City.

“The lack of water supply is not just MCWD’s problem, so we are asking for the public’s cooperation. We encourage those who are in elevated areas and those who have dormitories and boarding houses to please store water,” Dalena said.