Cebu City braces for water crisis: ‘Imminent disaster’

CEBU, Philippines — The Cebu City Government is set to declare a State of Imminent Disaster next week amid a looming water crisis brought about by El Niño, while tapping private water suppliers to help ensure continued water access in vulnerable communities.

Mayor Nestor Archival recently met with five bulk water suppliers—Helpmate, PWRI, Abejo, BP Waterworks, and Firstpeak (Camella Talamban)—to discuss emergency water distribution, identify at-risk barangays, and address significant water losses in private pipelines.

"Dili nato hulaton nga mosamot ang epekto sa El Niño before we act," Archival said in a statement after the meeting, stressing that early coordination is critical to protecting the city's water supply.

City officials also announced that the formal declaration of a State of Imminent Disaster will be issued next week under Republic Act 12287, or the Declaration of State of Imminent Disaster Act.

Signed into law in September 2025, the measure allows local governments to access disaster funds and implement preventive interventions before a forecasted crisis reaches its worst stage.

An executive order will follow, outlining specific guidelines for water distribution, food security, and other related response measures.During Thursday's briefing, city officials urged private suppliers to reduce their non-revenue water (NRW), or the volume of water lost through pipeline leaks before reaching consumers.

Data presented during the meeting showed that two suppliers were losing approximately 34 percent and 26 percent of their water, respectively, exceeding the World Bank's benchmark of 20 to 25 percent.

Officials noted that recovering even a portion of these losses would be more practical than scrambling to increase raw water production.

They also pointed out that one provider alone serves around 66,000 residents, or roughly six percent of Cebu City's population, underscoring how reliable private water services could help spare thousands of households from relying on emergency city water distribution.

In response, the suppliers committed to donating water as part of their corporate social responsibility initiatives.

One company pledged to provide around 1,000 cubic meters of water daily through a loading bay in Barangay Guadalupe, with an additional 800 cubic meters per day starting in the first week of February 2027.

Acknowledging that suppliers have limited delivery trucks, the city government offered to assist with transportation logistics and provide access to strategic distribution sites, provided the companies help identify the barangays with the most urgent needs.

To protect residents from rising temperatures, the city is also coordinating with the Department of Health (DOH) and the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry to establish free drinking water stations in high-traffic public areas, including shopping malls.

Senior citizens and schoolchildren attending early classes will be prioritized at these stations. The initiative will be complemented by a citywide information campaign on water conservation and heat safety.

Meanwhile, the City Health Department will closely monitor possible increases in heat-related illnesses and flu-like symptoms while keeping track of hospitals' preparedness.

The Cebu City Council is also expected to take up a resolution urging the National Water Resources Board (NWRB) to participate in the city's El Niño response.

"Through close coordination with our partners and the cooperation of every Cebuano, we can strengthen our water security and better prepare our city for the challenges ahead," Archival said, urging residents to conserve water, use it responsibly, and heed official city advisories.

The move comes after months of mounting warnings and adjustments in preparation for the worsening dry spell.

Earlier this month, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) confirmed the presence of a "very strong" El Niño in the tropical Pacific, projecting significantly reduced rainfall and higher temperatures through at least March 2027.

PAGASA Visayas has warned that Cebu could experience full drought conditions by late February or March.

Even before considering the imminent disaster declaration, Cebu City had begun implementing targeted interventions.

In September 2026, city officials convened an El Niño summit after city agriculture data showed that around 13,700 registered farmers in 28 upland barangays—most of them dependent on rainfall—were facing significant threats to their crops and livestock.

At the time, the city identified more than 400 artesian wells for possible rehabilitation and tapped a previously approved ?30-million supplemental budget for irrigation repairs, rainwater harvesting, and solar-powered water pumps.

Earlier this week, on November 10, the Cebu City Council also passed a resolution recommending an adjusted class schedule, allowing elementary pupils to attend classes as early as 5:30 a.m. until 10 a.m. It also recommended flexible or remote learning arrangements to protect children from extreme midday heat.

Archival had also said in early November that the city was initially using its regular budget to fund well repairs while awaiting the formal mechanisms for accessing calamity funds. (CEBU NEWS)