Cebu’s Water Crisis Demands Unified Action—Will New Tool Bridge the Gaps?
Cebu province faces persistent challenges with water supply and flooding, yet solutions remain fragmented across local governments. A new tool, the Water Security Assessment Tool (WatSat), has been proposed to address these issues—but its adoption remains uncertain. Officials warn that without coordinated action, vulnerable communities will keep suffering the worst effects of water insecurity.
The Department of Science and Technology (DOST 7) has called on local government units (LGUs) to use WatSat, a system designed to assess water security across five key areas. Director Tristan Abando stressed that the tool could provide a shared framework for planning, ensuring consistency even when leadership changes. Currently, Cebu’s water and flood problems are often tackled separately, leading to inefficiencies and unresolved issues.
The push for WatSat comes as Cebu’s water challenges grow more complex with population growth. The tool offers a way to measure and improve water security, but its impact hinges on local adoption. Until more LGUs take action, gaps in planning and coordination will likely persist.
