MCWD denies having a dam in Jaclupan, says it's a weir

An official of the Metro Cebu Water District yesterday denied earlier reports that the agency owns and maintains a dam at barangay Jaclupan in Talisay City, endangering as a result the residents nearby due to reported leaks in the structure.

Terry Andaya, head of the MCWD public affairs department, made the clarification to The Freeman after the Provincial Board approved a resolution urging the MCWD to inspect the dam of the reported leaks.

Andaya said the structure the MCWD has been maintaining is not a dam, in the true sense of the word, but a weir to catch water from the Mananga River.

According to the dictionary, a weir is a low dam built across a stream or river to raise the latter's water level or divert its flow. It could also be a fence or an enclosure set in a waterway for taking fish.

"Dako kaayo na nga sayop nga aduna kitay dam diha sa Jaclupan gumikan kay dili man gayud kini tinuod," Andaya said.

Andaya also reported that there was no leak in the weir but admitted that water, as a normal course, sometimes overflows from it.

There have been MCWD personnel already detailed to the area to monitor the situation there, Andaya added. "Dili gayud angayan nga mabalaka ang atong mga kaigsoonan diha sa maong barangay kay dili kini makahulga sa ilang pagpuyo," she said.

The PB, during its last regular session, directed MCWD to look into the reports that the Jaclupan structure has leaks, following the concerns raised by residents there. - Jose P. Sollano