Mandaue City starts rationing water in 27 barangays

By Mae Fhel K. Gomos

THE Mandaue City Government has started rationing water, as it acknowledged the lack of water supply in the city after Typhoon Odette (Rai) hit Cebu province on Thursday night, Dec. 16, 2021.

The City is deploying tankers to distribute water at designated areas in the city’s 27 barangays.

John Eddu Ibañez, executive secretary of Mayor Jonas Cortes, said they have set a schedule for distribution of water from 1 to 4 p.m. per barangay.

But he did not give the specific schedule during the interview with SunStar Cebu on Monday, Dec. 20.

Ibañez, a lawyer, also shared that they have sent a letter addressed to the Metropolitan Cebu Water District (MCWD) to open at least 11 fire hydrants to be used for the water rationing. He did not mention where these hydrants are located, and the City is waiting for the approval from MCWD.

Drinking water

As for potable water, Ibañez said the Local Price Coordinating Council recommended the monitoring of prices, particularly of the refilling stations and other water suppliers in the city.

He said one of the known and main suppliers of bottled drinking water already committed to supply or sell drinking water as long as it can still produce this; however, the company’s production depends on the supply of kerosene that powers its generator sets.

While the city is under a state of calamity, Ibañez reiterated his call to businessmen not to take advantage of the situation.

The City Social Welfare and Services has already started the distribution of relief packs with purified drinking water in the heavily affected areas or those with houses destroyed by Odette.

Problem

Paknaan Barangay Captain Malak Soco acknowledged the problem of potable water in his barangay, considering that he has learned that so far only one refilling station is currently operating with the use of a solar panel.

“Medyo nagpanic gamay. Dinhi sa atoa, ang problema lang gyud nato katong mga potable water kay ubay-ubay man ni ang mga deep wells dinhi atong mga tabay. Naa ta’y source para panghugas, panglaba, panglimpyo,” he said.

(There was a little panic. In our place, our only problem is the availability of potable water. We have several deep wells where residents gather water for washing of dishes, clothes and cleaning.)

Soco said he advised the refilling station to supply only one gallon to every family per day so as to fairly distribute water.

For the meantime, Soco advised his constituents to use the water from the wells for drinking by boiling it first.

As one of the heavily affected barangays in Mandaue City by Odette, Soco said he is set to convene the Barangay Council to declare Paknaan under a state of calamity in order for them to utilize the quick response fund.

Soco said several residents had sought the help of the barangay in clearing their houses hit by fallen trees.

The village chief said the barangay will use the quick response fund primarily for the purchase of additional equipment for the clearing operations.

He also asked at least 20 volunteers in 24 zones in Pakna-an to help in the activity although no one was spared from the onslaught of Odette.