Water hydrants available in Guba, Agsungot amid water shortage

CEBU, Philippines — The Metropolitan Cebu Water District (MCWD) has opened public water hydrants in selected mountain barangays in Cebu City to help address the ongoing water shortage affecting upland communities.

Starting June 11, 2026, residents of barangays Guba and Agsungot may fetch potable water from designated hydrants from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., Monday to Friday.

MCWD said the hydrant in Barangay Guba will serve residents of Sirao and nearby areas, while the hydrant in Barangay Agsungot will cater to residents of Mabini, Binaliw, and surrounding communities.

To further assist residents, the water district is also providing 16-liter water containers that may be borrowed for water collection.

The initiative serves as an interim solution while MCWD continues to identify suitable locations for the deployment of its Mobile Siphon Tanks (MSTs), which are capable of producing potable water from surface sources such as rivers and streams.

MCWD currently operates two MST units previously deployed in upland and disaster-affected areas. One truck-mounted unit can produce up to seven cubic meters of potable water per hour, while a larger unit can generate up to 20 cubic meters per hour depending on site conditions.

Aside from opening hydrants, MCWD is also supplying a 10-cubic-meter water tanker truck daily to the Cebu City government for distribution to affected mountain barangays.

MCWD said these measures are part of its continuing efforts to support communities experiencing water supply difficulties, including areas not yet connected to the water district’s distribution system.

“Keeping water within reach, especially in times of need, is part of MCWD’s commitment to serve the community,” MCWD General Manager John Dx Lapid said in a statement.

The water district added that it continues to coordinate with local government units and barangay officials to ensure the delivery of safe and potable water while long-term solutions are being developed. — (FREEMAN)