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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider Visayas devider MCWD fast-tracks water supply projects due to El Niño

MCWD fast-tracks water supply projects due to El Niño

Published Jun 17, 2026 05:13 pm
CEBU CITY – Anticipating the negative effects of El Niño, the Metropolitan Cebu Water District (MCWD) is ramping up several water supply projects.
MCWD General Manager DX Lapid said they have been coordinating closely with the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) to monitor climate developments.
MCWD has been briefed by the State weather bureau that there is more than 80 percent probability that current conditions will develop into a full El Niño event.
The greater impact of the phenomenon could be felt in the first quarter of 2027 and could persist until May or June.
“This is no longer just a forecast. El Niño conditions are already present, although we are still experiencing the rainy season,” Lapid said in a press conference on Wednesday, June 17.
To prepare for possible decline of water supply, Lapid said the MCWD is accelerating several water supply projects, including the development of new wells and partnerships with bulk water providers.
Lapid said part of the projects is the drilling of 11 new production wells in Cebu City, activation of standby wells, and additional sources such as the Kalunasan Well.
MCWD currently produces around 153 million liters of water daily from its in-house sources but recent declines in some water sources have been observed due to the dry season.
The water decline is not even caused yet by the direct effects of El Niño, Lapid said.
MCWD is projecting that prolonged dry conditions could significantly reduce production from Jaclupan.
The water facility is closely monitoring the Lusaran River and the Jaclupan facility, which supplies many barangays in southern Cebu City.
Among the measures that MCWD is considering is the revival of a 2019 proposal to install deep wells in eight public schools in Cebu City, most of them located in the southern portion of the city.
The proposed deep wells are seen to provide an emergency water source for communities that may be affected by declining output from the Jaclupan facility.
MCWD has sent a follow-up letter to Cebu City government and is awaiting the necessary memorandum of agreement or usufruct arrangement to proceed.

Related Tags

El Niño MCWD Cebu Water Water supply
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