|
Monday, May 16, 2005
'Water wars' in dry Cebu City barangays
By Rene H. Martel
CEBU CITY -- As the temperature soars, so do the tempers of Cebu's mountain barangay residents, as they quarrel over meager water they sourced from drying-up natural springs.
They often end up letting off steam on their barangay officials, who take the heat because the twice-a-week water rations from Cebu City Hall are not enough.
That is why Cebu City Councilor Edwin Jagmoc is rushing the purchase of two water tankers worth P2.1 million so the affected residents will hopefully simmer down.
Barangay officials are hollering that City Hall needs to send water tankers more often.
"They've asked me to speed up the purchase of the tankers. We've received reports that there have been fights over water," Jagmoc said.
The Metropolitan Cebu Water District (MCWD) has warned that it might resort to water rationing if the dry spell lasts longer than this month.
With the lack of rain, MCWD's daily production has been reduced by more than 3,000 cubic meters (cu.m.). Normal daily yield is over 140,000 cu.m., but as of April 23, the water district was only able to produce 137,000 to 138,000 cu.m.
Buhisan dam is now only able to supply 1,000 to 2,000 cu.m. a day, while it used to provide 8,000 cu.m.
The Jaclupan weir across Mananga River in Talisay City can supply only about 15,000 cu.m.; it had a maximum expected yield of 33,000 cu.m. a day.
Concerned with Metro Cebu's water woes, Rep. Eduardo Gullas (Cebus 1st district) recently filed a bill that seeks to consolidate the management of Metro Cebu's five protected areas.
Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña, who has long-running fight with Gullas over the South Reclamation Project, may have to work together with the congressman for the creation of a 17-member Central Cebu Protected Landscape-Protected Area Management Board.
Twenty-four mountain barangays were placed under a state of calamity and were given part of the P5-P8 million City Hall allocated to address the shortage of water there.
Last week, Jagmoc withdrew his resolution asking for the tankers' purchase because of conflicting figures.
But he reintroduced the measure, which he said should be considered urgent, for this Wednesday's council session. The purchase will be charged to Cebu City's calamity fund.
Last month, the City Council declared 24 of Cebu City's 30 mountain barangays as calamity areas because of scarce water.
Jagmoc, chairman of the committee on public services, is taking charge of providing water for mountain barangays greatly affected by the dry spell.
The City currently has just three tankers, two of which carry 14,000 liters.
The third, which can carry 12,000 liters, cannot negotiate the steep dirt roads leading to most mountain barangays.
It can only serve Barangays Bacayan, Pit-os, and parts of Binaliw. Guba, Adlaon, Mabini, Sudlon, for example, cannot be reached by the tanker because they are located too far upland.
Good thing, Jagmoc said, Busay Barangay Captain Eliodoro Sanchez assented to his request to have the barangay's tanker serve at least another barangay each day.
Agsungot Barangay Captain Petra Arnoco, in a separate interview, said many times they had to pacify neighbors who fight over their turns in fetching water from their springs, which could no longer supply everyone.
She said water rations from the City are not enough.
Jagmoc said that because of few water deliveries from the City, those who line up but could no longer receive any because the tankers are already empty often vent their ire on their officials.
As long-term solution to the problem, the City is planning to build water catchments in schools so mountain barangays could save water during rainy days.
(May 16, 2005 issue)
Write letter to the editor.Click here.
Join the Sun.Star message board.Click here. |
|
|
|
[return to top]
[home]
|
|
