Cebuanos asked to conserve water

CEBU, Philippines — After one of the city’s major water sources sustained damage, Cebu City Mayor Nestor Archival has called on all Cebuanos to conserve water following his visit to Barangay Lusaran, one of the hardest-hit areas in the aftermath of Typhoon Tino.

“What I witnessed is beyond imagination,” Archival said in a late-night statement on November 8.

“Homes washed away, vehicles and heavy equipment overturned, and people still in shock. Yet, I saw courage in their eyes, a spirit determined to survive.”

Barangay Lusaran is home to one of the city’s primary water sources, the Lusaran Dam, which previously supplied up to 20 million liters of water daily to Cebu City. Following the typhoon’s devastation, it now faces severe infrastructure damage.

Aside from this, power and water lines remain down, and restoration may take up to 15 days.

In line with this, the mayor emphasized the urgency of conservation, urging residents of Cebu City to “reuse, recycle, and reduce water waste at home, in schools, and in workplaces.”

Earlier that day, Archival visited Lusaran Proper and met with Barangay Captain Agustin P. Partulan at the barangay hall, where he received firsthand accounts of the challenges facing the community.

Among the most pressing concerns are damaged response vehicles and equipment, which have hampered relief operations.

The Poblacion area, considered the heart of local livelihood, was also particularly affected.

The bridge leading to Lusaran has been rendered impassable, complicating the movement of emergency vehicles and heavy equipment.

Despite these setbacks, the mayor assured residents that the city is working to restore normalcy.

“We’re moving resources where they’re needed fastest,” Archival said during a field walkthrough and added, “Clearing and safe access come first so relief can reach every sitio.”

Immediate directives from the mayor include the deployment of additional payloaders, backhoes, chainsaws, and hauling teams to reopen blocked roads and stabilize slopes.

Coordination with utility providers is underway to deliver temporary power and water solutions to sitios experiencing prolonged outages.

Relief augmentation is also ongoing, with food packs, potable water, blankets, and hygiene kits being prioritized for vulnerable groups such as the elderly, persons with disabilities, and pregnant and lactating mothers.

To support affected areas, the Cebu City Government has mobilized water tankers from various agencies. As of yesterday, it was reported that 67% of the city’s water supply has been restored, with power restoration reaching 80%.

However, water distribution remains limited at 60%, largely due to the damaged Lusaran pumping station under JE Hydro, which still lacks power and access.

Residents needing water assistance may contact the Cebu City Command Center at 0993 173 5326 or 0993 173 5340. Additional coordination is available through 0969 021 5572 for deployment scheduling.

The Visayan Electric Company (VECO) continues repair work to reconnect power to Lusaran’s pumping station — a critical step toward restoring full water service.

Meanwhile, barangay officials have been tasked with issuing regular advisories on cleared routes, relief pick-up points, and precautionary evacuations. Cebu City Hall has also urged residents to report signs of fresh soil movement, leaning trees, or new cracks to barangay authorities, and to avoid marked danger zones.

Evacuation transport has been pre-positioned in case of further weather disturbances.

“While Lusaran heals, let us do our part,” Archival said, adding that “Every drop matters.” (CEBU NEWS)