The Metropolitan Cebu Water District (MCWD) has intensified its preparations for the potential impact of El Niño after recording a water supply deficit exceeding 16,000 cubic meters per day. This has raised concerns about water scarcity in Metro Cebu in the coming months.
Current Water Production and Demand
During a press conference on Wednesday, June 17, 2026, MCWD General Manager John Dx Lapid and Operations Department Manager Edgar Ortega stated that the water utility is currently producing an average of 263,941 cubic meters of water per day (CMD), which is lower than the estimated daily demand of 280,000 CMD.
The current water deficit of 16,059 cubic meters per day is estimated to be equivalent to 16 million liters of water, enough to fill over 16 million one-liter bottles daily.
Preparedness Measures
Despite this shortfall, Lapid emphasized that the MCWD is maintaining a state of preparedness rather than alarm, while implementing measures to minimize the impact of the possible El Niño. These measures include rehabilitation of existing wells, reduction of non-revenue water (NRW) or water wastage, and a ban on unauthorized access to fire hydrants, which Lapid said contributes to water loss and poses a risk of contamination to the utility's potable water supply.
“We have designated metered hydrants for emergency use and coordinated with the Bureau of Fire Protection to ensure that hydrants are used only during emergencies,” Lapid said.
Support to Mountain Communities
The MCWD is also assisting mountain communities experiencing water supply difficulties. Residents of Barangays Guba and Agsungot have already received water containers, while the utility is studying the deployment of mobile water tanks to mountain barangays such as Cambinocot, Bonbon, and Paril.
The utility also allows water tankers of the Cebu City Government to draw water from hydrants for distribution to mountain communities.
City Government Coordination
Cebu City Mayor Nestor Archival stated that the city has strengthened its coordination with the MCWD to ensure continued access to water for residents in mountain barangays. He said a designated hydrant in Barangay Guba has been opened as a controlled water source, while the city deploys a tanker truck to deliver water daily for free to residents.
