METROPOLITAN Cebu is already in a critical stage of a water crisis due to several environmental factors, so resolving the water crisis in Cebu is everybody’s responsibility.
This was what Virgilio Espeleta, PUM Netherlands regional representative, said during the first Cebu Water Summit on Monday, March 27, 2023 at Bai Hotel Cebu in Mandaue City.
Espeleta, who is also a director of the University of San Carlos-Water Resources Center (USC-WRC), said the crisis has resulted in a huge gap in the demand and supply of clean, potable and safe water in the urban area, the deficiency in wastewater treatment and disposal management, and other factors.
Jon Paolo Siglos, president of the Philippine Institute of Chemical Engineers (PIChe)-Cebu Chapter, said if the crisis is left unresolved, the water supply deficit will go beyond 250 million liters per day in addition to the problem of extremely polluted river systems inside Metro Cebu.
PUM Netherlands, whose current focus is on energy, water, waste and the environment, provided a grant to the USC-WRC for research and development on Metro Cebu’s water resources.
Unavoidable
During the summit, Mandaue City Mayor Jonas Cortes and Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama called for stakeholders to team up and collaborate in addressing the inevitable problem of Metro Cebu’s water resources.
Rama said the onslaught of several calamities in Cebu in the past has awakened everyone to the reality that water scarcity may be unavoidable in the future.
“Water scarcity might become an issue in the coming days,” Rama said.
He added that he had coordinated with the Cebu City Council to respond to the threat accordingly.
Rama emphasized that not having water has a negative impact on his vision of a Singapore-like Cebu City.
His administration is pushing for the construction of a new dam that would trap surface water inside the Central Cebu Protected Landscape as an additional source of water for Metro Cebu.
Butuanon teamup
On the other hand, Cortes showed in his welcome speech the importance of the collaboration of cities, giving the example of Cebu and Mandaue City joining forces in the rehabilitation and preservation of the Butuanon River.
“We acknowledged that our rivers are vital to the ecosystem that supports the livelihood of many of our constituents,” Cortes said.
Butuanon River starts in Cebu City, flows through Mandaue City, then drains into the Mactan Channel.
Cortes added that it is imperative to work together as a community to find solutions and ensure the sustainable use of water resources.
To address the problem, Espeleta calls for the formulation of Cebu’s Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) in collaboration with the concerned national government agencies, water resource entities and the private sector.
IWRM aspires to provide consumers and the business sector with clean, available and affordable water.
Espeleta said this water crisis impacts not only the health and sanitation aspect of the society but, in the near future, also Cebu’s economy and tourism.
Under the United Nations’ (UN) 17 Sustainable Development Goals, he emphasized the importance of water in addressing the challenges of poverty, hunger, health, education, economic growth, industry, infrastructure, livability, quality product, climate, sealife and life on land.