3 upland waterfalls deemed “too hazardous” to tap

CEBU, Philippines — Cebu City’s hopes of harnessing upland waterfalls as alternative water sources faced a major setback after three sites were declared unsafe and impractical, heightening the urgency of engineered solutions as the city braces for El Niño and the looming threat of saltwater intrusion.

The Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CCDRRMO) has formally reported its assessment of three waterfalls; Kabang Falls in Budlaan, Manggasang Falls in Tagbao, and Linut-od Falls in Taptap.

The reports, prepared by Rapid Damage Assessment and Needs Analysis/Resource and Environmental Assessment unit head Kristina Emmanuelle Tallo and inspected by CCDRRMO personnel led by Operations and Warning Division head Dexter Tudtud, concluded that while all three waterfalls have abundant water supply, their physical conditions make them unsafe and impractical to harness.

At Kabang Falls, inspected May 5, the pathway was found to be nearly a kilometer from the access road, with steep and hazardous terrain marked by drop-offs.

The Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) Geo-Hazard Map classified the site as highly susceptible to landslides.

Manggasang Falls, inspected June 4, was similarly marked as high-risk, with its one-kilometer distance from the access road making conveyance impractical.

Linut-od Falls which was inspected last June 5 was deemed moderately susceptible to landslides but lies 2.3 kilometers from the nearest road, with narrow and steep access.

The CCDRRMO noted though that a more feasible option exists at the National Irrigation Administration water impounding facility in Gimbuthan, Upper Udlom, along the boundary of Tabunan and Taptap.

These assessments arrive as Cebu City faces a worsening water crisis.

The Metropolitan Cebu Water District has confirmed a daily supply deficit of more than 16,000 cubic meters, producing 263,941 cubic meters from 280,000.

The shortfall has been aggravated by the dry season and El Niño, which has reduced output from the Jaclupan Water Facility in Talisay from 30,000 to 20,000 cubic meters per day.

Officials warn that the source could be depleted within three months if extraction is not managed.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration has projected an 80% probability of a strong El Niño event lasting into 2027, raising fears of prolonged shortages.

Some stopgap measures are being mapped out for residents in mountain barangays and even in the urban side have been laid out. The city government has also been delivering water to barangays in need of supply for almost a month now.

Mobile siphon tanks have also prepared to supplement supply.

Experts have previously caution that if over-extraction continues, areas such as Talamban could experience brackish water intrusion by 2030.

The MGB has long urged local governments to integrate geo-hazard maps into planning, stressing that Cebu’s upland terrain is prone to landslides and flooding.

The city’s path forward, officials and water managers say, lies in engineered facilities, deep wells, and desalination projects and construction of dams have also been eyed, coupled with stronger governance to avoid repeating past crises. — /BRP (FREEMAN)