Worst dry spell hit Cebu in 3 years

CEBU CITY, Philippines – The province of Cebu is experiencing this summer its worst dry spell in the last few years, prompting agriculture officials to ask residents of Cebu City and other urban areas to conserve water and to discourage farmers from planting their seeds just yet.

The Metro Cebu Water District (MCWD) said water shortage had been reported in Cebu and Talisay cities, and it could last for a week. 

It attributed the low supply to the low production in the Jaclupan Water Facility, which is currently generating 18,000 cubic meters a day – down from its normal production of 33,000 cubic meters a day.

The announcement runs counter to the water district’s assurance in March that despite the dry spell, there will be enough water supply in the province until July.

In a statement on Wednesday, April 22, MCWD warned portions of Talisay City in the south and central Cebu City, including the elevated areas, to expect either low water supply and none at all during peak hours due to “intense dry spell.”

“It is recommended to residents along these areas to store water during off-peak hours,” the water district said.

Affected areas in Talisay City include barangays Lagtang, Lawaan, Mojon, Tabunok, San Isidro, Cansojong, Dumlog, Pooc, Biasong, San Roque, Tangke, and Bulacao.

In Cebu City, water shortage and low supply are expected in Bulacao, Inayawan, Cogon, Pardo, Quiot, Kinasang-an, Basak-Pardo, San Nicolas, Mambaling, Punta Princesa, Tisa, Labangon, Banawa, Salvador Street, Calamba, Sambag 1 & 2, Pahina Central, Sawang-Calero, Pasil, Ermita, Taboan, Kalubihan, Downtown Area, Carbon, Sta Cruz, Cogon-Ramos, San Antonio, Kamagayan, Parian, Tinago, Day-as, T. Padilla, Tejero, Lorega-San Miguel, and Carreta.

There will be water shortage too in parts of MJ Cuenco Avenue, upper Osmena Boulevard, portions of Barangay Guadalupe, M Velez Street, and parts of barangays Capitol Site and Kamputhaw.

Elevated areas in Sitio Mahayahay, Calvar,  and Panabang in Barangay Apas, PBN Housing, Plazaville, Oprra Unit 1, 2, 3 will also have low to no water supply.

‘Plant eggplants’

Virgilio Jakosalem, chief of operations at the Provincial Agriculture Office, urged farmers in towns to shift from their regular crops to “short duration crops” – like eggplants – so that their families will still have enough food supply.

He told Rappler that farmers should also do backyard gardening to harvest enough for their families’ consumption and not for commercial use.

“Dili lang sa sila mananom para negosyo. Mananom lang sila para lang naa makaon, para ilang consumo sa pamilya,” he said. (They shouldn’t grow plants for business. They should grow enough so they have enough for the family to eat.)

Jakosalem said farmers should not rely on trees to provide shade to protect their livestock from the heat. They should build barns or sheds for the animals. He warned that the intense heat could kill farm animals.

Jakosalem said the Provincial Agriculture Office does not know yet the full extent of the damage brought on by the dry spell, but municipal agriculturists were told as early as March to submit reports on the effect of the El Niño in their areas.

But based on experience in the last 3 years, Jakosalem said this is the worst El Niño in Cebu so far. “There were negligible effects [in the past]. When PAGASA (weather bureau) announced last year, farmers even asked if there was really El Niño when 3 typhoons came,” he said.

When Rappler checked, there was no data available at the Provincial Agriculture Office assessing the damage by drought from 2011 to 2014. – Rappler.com