CEBU CITY, Philippines – Due to the dry spell caused by El Niño, at least 67 areas will have low pressure or no water running in their homes or businesses.

This is up from the 44 areas previously announced.

The Metro Cebu Water District (MCWD), announced on Monday, April 18, that the water deficit or the volume affected by the drought had already gone up to 20,000 cubic meters per day from the 19,000 cu. m. per day last week.

Cebu City had declared a state of calamity on April 8, and April 11 for Cebu province and neighboring Bohol.

MCWD issued a Store Water Advisory in the following areas since consumers need to storewater during off peak hours (10 pm. to 5 am) good for their use for 24 hours.

The MCWD said that areas that are affected by water rationing because they are in elevated or interior areas or are “at the tip” of MCWD’s distribution system.

MCWD told Rappler they were working on filling the water shortage by purchasing water from other sources, and redirecting water through various injection points in Metro Cebu. (READ: Cebu City gov’t, private sector meet to address water shortage)

According to state weather agency PAGASA, El Niño will last up until June 2016.

The areas with low pressure to no water are:

Talisay City
1. Lawaan
2. Lagtang
3. Pooc
4. Poblacion
5. Dumlog
6. San Roque
7. San Isidro
8. Bulacao

Cebu City
9. Bulacao
10. Poblacion Pardo
11. Quiot
12. Kinasang-an
13. Basak San Nicolas
14. Mambaling
15. Duljo
16. San Nicolas Proper
17. Pahina San Nicolas
18. Sawang Calero
19. Suba
20. Pasil
21. Ermita
22. Punta Princesa
23. Tisa
24. Labangon
25. Calamba
26. Capitol Site
27. Kamputhaw
28. OPRRA
29. Sta. Cruz
30. Sambag 1
31. Sambag 2
32. Cogon Ramos
33. San Antonio
34. Pahina Central
35. Kalubihan
36. North Reclamation Area
37. Carreta
38. Pier area
39. Lahug
40. Apas
41. San Jose, Talamban
42. Mabolo
43. Banilad
44. Guadalupe
45. Ermita
46. Tejero
47. Kalubihan
48. Luz
49. Buhisan
50. Busay
51. Zapatera
52. Sto. Niño
53. Tejero
54. Tinago
55. Lorega-San Miguel
56. Inayawan
57. Parian

Lapu-Lapu City
58. Punta Engaño
59. Babag 1
60. Babag 2
61. Calawisan
62. Maribago
63. Marigondon
64. Suba-Basbas
65. Pajo
66. Mactan
67. Pusok

Cordova
All barangays

Liloan
Elevated or interior barangays

According to Cebu City legal officer, and overall commander of task force “Water is Life” Jerone Castillo, they were only able to reach 30% of the upland barangays they were attempting to distribute water to.

According to a report in Sun.Star Cebu, at least P13 million in crops and livestock have been damaged by the dryspell.

The city and private sector previously met to plan on addressing the water issue on April 11. They planned on filling this void by purchasing water from other sources, and redirecting water through various injection points in Metro Cebu. – Rappler.com