Thousands of households across Metro Cebu continue to face severe water shortages more than a week after Typhoon Tino battered the region, with residents resorting to alternative sources like deep wells for their daily needs.
Typhoon Damage Cripples Water Infrastructure
Typhoon Tino struck Cebu on the morning of November 4, 2025, causing extensive damage to critical water facilities and pipelines throughout the metro. The storm's impact has left the Metro Cebu Water District scrambling to restore services to affected communities.
MCWD spokesperson Minerva Gerodias confirmed that while approximately 75% of their system has been restored, many areas remain without reliable water supply. "The damage caused by flooding and flash floods has cut off access to several major facilities," Gerodias stated during an interview on November 12.
Key Facilities Severely Damaged
The Lusaran Dam, which normally supplies about 30,000 cubic meters of water daily to Cebu City, suffered heavy damage during the typhoon. This represents roughly 10% of MCWD's total daily production capacity.
"The 30,000 cubic meters can be visualized as 30 million one-liter bottles of Coke, which is enough to supply around 30,000 households," Gerodias explained, emphasizing the scale of the disruption.
Access to the Lusaran facility remains problematic as the bridge leading to the plant collapsed during the storm. Restoration work is expected to begin seven days after power supply returns to the area, with operations resuming approximately one week later.
Additional disruptions have occurred at the Jaclupan and Buhisan dams. Repairs at Jaclupan faced delays after crews discovered a submerged leak, affecting more barangays including:
- Bulacao
- Pardo
- Kinasang-an
- Inayawan
- Cogon Pardo
- Duljo-Fatima
- Suba Pasil
- Sawang Kalero
Widespread Impact Across Metro Cebu
The cumulative damage to water sources has left approximately 70,000 households across Metro Cebu without reliable water supply. Affected areas include Compostela, Talisay, Buhisan, Lahug, Busay, Tisa, Labangon, Banawa, Punta Princesa, Mambaling, and Basak San Nicolas.
Meanwhile, JE Hydro's network serving Busay, Lahug, Apas, Ramos, Santo Cruz, Jakosalem, Sambag 2, Banawa, Guadalupe, and the Barrios area remains partially offline.
In Purok Mangga Uno, Barangay Cotcot, Liloan, residents have turned to a deep well to wash clothes and clean homes, illustrating the creative solutions communities are employing during the crisis.
Emergency Response and Recovery Efforts
MCWD is currently rationing water through tankers, though the wide service area makes daily delivery challenging. Water is being distributed at a rate of about one cubic meter per household.
Cebu City Mayor Nestor Archival visited Barangay Lusaran on November 8 and described the scene as devastating. "What I saw is beyond imagination. People are in shock, but their courage stands out," the mayor reported.
Flash floods and landslides swept away homes, overturned vehicles, and damaged the local market, leaving about 150 families homeless in the area alone.
The City Government has deployed payloaders, backhoes, chainsaws, and hauling teams to clear debris and reopen roads. Relief operations are prioritizing food, clean water, blankets, and hygiene kits for vulnerable groups including the elderly, persons with disabilities, and pregnant or lactating women.
Mayor Archival has called for volunteers and civic groups to assist in recovery efforts, specifically urging: "Let's go to Lusaran. They need more help."
Conservation and Billing Assurance
The mayor has urged residents to practice water conservation by reusing, recycling, and reducing water waste while restoration continues.
MCWD has assured consumers that billing will remain based on actual consumption with no additional charges imposed during the restoration period.
Despite ongoing efforts, officials warn that some areas will continue to experience limited water supply until all repairs are completed. MCWD aims to finish repairs at Jaclupan and Buhisan early, while Lusaran is expected to resume operations about a week after full power restoration.
"Supply is still short because of typhoon damage. We are working as fast as possible to restore water service and aim to fully recover before the end of the year," Gerodias stated, providing assurance that all facilities will be fully operational before year-end.
