CEBU City Councilor Dave Tumulak has urged the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to monitor prices of bottled water and water refilling stations following the onset of the El Niño.

Tumulak said he already sent a formal letter to DTI 7 Director Asteria Caberte regarding a possible surge in prices as businessmen will likely take advantage of a possible water shortage.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration already declared a state of El Niño at the start of February and said it would end in May 2019.

Due to the extreme weather condition, the water supply in the city’s upland barangays has already dried up. The Metropolitan Cebu Water District also reported that Buhisan dam is already at critical level while production of Jaclupan dam dropped.

“We must ensure that the prices of mineral water, water refilling stations, water distributors will be maintained and will not increase,” Tumulak said.

He also sent communication to the Cebu City Health Department to inspect water sources like deep wells.

He said if the supply of water will be depleted, there is a strong likelihood for people to use water from deep wells. (from PAC of Superbalita Cebu)