More gov’t support in water development sought

In observance of the 20th World Water Day, stakeholders in Metro Cebu and Central Visayas highlighted the need for water conservation and government support in water infrastructure.

Cebu’s water supply is 97 percent extracted from ground waterwells.

Rene Villa, chairman of the Local Water Utilities Administration Villa also outlined government’s thrust of going slow in full privatization of water utilities, as it may drive water rates further up.

Water districts in the region gathered in the SM Mall Cebu yesterday to observe the World Water Day.

Instead of full privatization, the MCWD, according to Charmaine Rodriguez, public affairs manager, is asking government to invest on water infrastructure like water reservoirs, especially for Metro Cebu where economic growth is driving up water demand.

The MCWD supplies 40 percent of water needs in its franchise area covering the cities of Cebu, Talisay, Mandaue and Lapu-Lapu, and the towns of Cordova, Consolacion, Liloan and Compostela.

By 2020, the MCWD plans to raise coverage to 60 percent of the domestic water demand and 80 percent of commercial demand.

Aside from increasing water production capacity, Rodriguez said water conservation is very important.

MCWD produces 189,000 cubic meters of water per day. Another 35,000 cubic meters comes from bulk water suppliers.

Cebu’s water supply is 97 percent ground water.

In another activity, Metro Cebu water stakeholders signed a Water Warriors Pact for the protection, preservation, development and management of water resources.

The covenant also affirmed the “right to access to safe, potable and affordable water.”

Water management and development, according to Rowen Lorenzo Montecillo, president of the Metropolitan Cebu Water District Employees Union, “is important and urgent” because of threats of climate change, environment degradation and pollution./Correspondent Tweeny M. Malinao