The Mandaue City Council is urging both public and private sectors to help address the worsening water shortage as the city grapples with the effects of the dry season.
Councilor Jesus Arcilla Jr., in an interview, said that government-owned deep wells should be maximized and shared with communities, especially during the ongoing heat and water crisis.
‘Daghan gyud nag kuwang og tubig karon,’ Arcilla said. He noted that some areas have already resorted to rationing water due to limited supply.
The councilor called on barangays with operational deep wells to make them accessible to residents, particularly constituents who have little to no access to potable water. He added that these facilities could provide significant relief to affected households.
To further address the situation, Arcilla said the city is currently conducting an inventory of all deep wells and has instructed barangays to report units that require repair.
Arcilla stressed that deep wells serve as a crucial support system to the Metropolitan Cebu Water District, especially in areas where regular supply remains insufficient.
The City Council has approved a resolution, which urges private establishments and business enterprises operating deep wells to share water with affected communities during water crises brought about by El Niño.
The resolution frames the initiative as part of corporate social responsibility (CSR), encouraging businesses to contribute to community resilience during periods of extreme water scarcity.
Arcilla expressed hope that with collective effort from both the government and private sector, the impact of the water crisis on residents can be mitigated.
In Cebu City, the much-awaited distribution of aid under the Presidential Assistance for Farmers and Fisherfolk (PAFF) program finally pushed through on April 25 at the City Resource Management and Development Center (CREMDEC) in Barangay Taptap.
The release was met with relief among the 1,489 beneficiaries, who received P2,325 each-many of whom had expressed frustration over the earlier postponement. They expressed gratitude that the government had followed through.
Farmers from 27 upland barangays, including Adlaon, Agsungot, Binaliw, Bonbon, Busay, Budlaan, Buhisan, Babag, Cambinocot, Buot, Guba, Kalunasan, Lusaran, Malubog, Mabini, Pamutan, Paril, Pung-ol Sibugay, Sapangdaku, Sinsin, Sudlon I, Sudlon II, Toong, Tabunan, Taptap, and Sirao, lined up to claim their assistance.
The Department of Agriculture Region VII supervised the release, while the Cebu City Agriculture Department (CAD) verified beneficiary lists to ensure order.
Mayor Nestor Archival stressed the importance of seeing the program through.
‘Our farmers rise before sunrise. They work through heat, rain, and uncertainty. Their hard work matters, their sacrifice matters, and they deserve to be honored,’ Archival said.
Archival also thanked President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ‘for the continued assistance and for recognizing the importance of the men and women who feed our city.’
Beyond the cash aid, CAD reminded farmers that support continues through free crop and livestock insurance under the Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation, seedling distribution, and other assistance designed to strengthen agricultural resilience.