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MCWD maintains no crisis, affirming consistent water supply

Cebu City's Vice Mayor Tomas Osmenña, now in the role of water authority head, proposes changes to the board of MCWD, alleging mismanagement. MCWD refutes claims of an impending water shortage crisis.

MCWD insists on stable water supply, denies any crisis situation
MCWD insists on stable water supply, denies any crisis situation

MCWD maintains no crisis, affirming consistent water supply

The Metropolitan Cebu Water District (MCWD) is maintaining a stable water supply despite warnings from Cebu City Vice Mayor Tomas Osmeña about a potential water crisis due to management issues.

MCWD has refuted these claims, assuring the public that there is no risk of water shutdown or financial collapse. The district has increased its daily water production substantially from 2020 to 2025 and plans to expand further in the coming years. Some intermittent supply issues persist in elevated or remote areas, which MCWD is actively addressing through system upgrades and new water sources.

In a significant move, MCWD is set to begin receiving bulk potable water supply from Vivant Water’s large-scale seawater desalination plant in Cordova by the fourth quarter of 2025. This project, a key long-term investment, aims to ease Cebu's water scarcity, providing 20 million liters of clean water daily, and reducing dependence on groundwater and erratic rainfall.

Meanwhile, there is no clear indication that MCWD’s board has been overhauled following Vice Mayor Osmeña’s calls. The water district continues its operations while publicly countering claims of crisis risk, focusing on infrastructure improvements and new water sources to sustainably meet Metro Cebu’s water demand.

The current MCWD board is led by chairman Miguelito Pato, and the mayor of Cebu City has the authority to appoint any qualified person to a vacant position on the board, as per Presidential Decree 198.

In a recent incident, a failure to pay a supplier in Cordova led to a power cutoff, leaving residents in Lapu-Lapu City without water for several days. However, MCWD states that its supply across Metro Cebu remains stable, with no indication that services will be cut off.

Vice Mayor Osmeña points to "many anomalies" and "major signs of corruption" within MCWD, claiming that Metro Cebu's water crisis is escalating and that there may be no water in the future due to mismanagement.

Previously, Mayor Nestor Archival had speculated that MCWD was nearing bankruptcy. However, MCWD has consistently fulfilled its payment obligations to suppliers and is not responsible for the internal business transactions of private entities.

The standoff between the MCWD board and the City Government, which included a lockdown of the MCWD headquarters, occurred in April 2024. After the standoff, Mayor Raymond Alvin Garcia, who became mayor after the standoff, resumed negotiations with the Daluz-led board and improved the relationship between the City Government and the water district.

Osmenya was designated by Mayor Nestor Archival on July 9 to oversee all water supply-related issues, including concerns about the MCWD's crisis in the city.

The MCWD's franchise area covers the cities of Cebu, Lapu-Lapu, Mandaue, and Talisay, as well as the towns of Compostela, Consolacion, Cordova, and Lilo-an. The district has the authority to appoint any qualified person to a vacant position on the board, as per Presidential Decree 198, which grants the mayor of Cebu City this power.

  1. The City Government of Cebu, especially Vice Mayor Tomas Osmeña, has been vocal about the alleged management issues and potential water crisis at the Metropolitan Cebu Water District (MCWD).
  2. Despite these concerns, MCWD has been actively investing in policy-and-legislation regarding water supply, such as plans to receive bulk water from Vivant Water's desalination plant and addressing intermittent supply issues.
  3. The governance of MCWD is a matter of politics, with Vice Mayor Osmeña calling for an overhaul of the board and the mayor of Cebu City having the authority to appoint members, as per Presidential Decree 198.

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