ILOILO City – Despite the onset of the rainy season, this southern city is still not yet out of the woods as water shortage continues to affect the residents.
Thus, according to Mayor Jerry P. Treñas, the city government’s free water delivery through “Oplan Bulig Tubig sa Syudad (BTS)” will continue and there is no lifting of the state of calamity yet.
“I think we are facing a water crisis. The issue here is really to give more water to the residents,” the city mayor said during Monday’s press conference.
The City Council declared a state of calamity on April 22 due to water shortage brought by the El Niño phenomenon following the recommendation of the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (CDRRMC).
Treñas said he wants to look at the plans of the Metro Pacific Iloilo Water (MPIW), the city’s biggest bulk water supplier, in terms of how they could improve their water supply especially that they have been in Iloilo City for five years already.
“We need more water, our city is growing in terms of population, in terms of housing units in subdivisions and condominiums, apart from more hotels that are being built. So we need to make sure we have additional water,” Treñas stressed.
Aside from MPIW, local chief executive also plans to talk to South Balibago Water Resources, which is currently serving a portion of Jaro district as its franchise area, and other bulk water supplier like Flo Water Resources, Inc.
The city has procured water to be distributed to affected residents. Some 70 percent of the procured water is supplied by South Balibago while the remaining 30 percent is provided by MPIW.
“We cannot afford to say that we want to be the third most liveable city in the Philippines if we cannot provide potable pipe water to a greater number of Ilonggos, so we have to talk to them. Then, after we talk to them, we make a decision,” he added.
Treñas noted that if there is a need for new investors, the city is open to it.
Different business groups in Iloilo have also called for improved water services in the metro.
These include Iloilo Economic Development Foundation Inc. (ILED), Filipino-Chinese Chamber of Commerce of Iloilo, Inc. (FCCCII), Iloilo Federation for Information Technology (IFIT), Iloilo Business Club (IBC), Iloilo Hotels, Restaurants and Resorts Association (IHRRA), Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry – Iloilo Chapter, Inc. (PCCI Iloilo), and POPA Agriculture Cooperative.
They all underscored that the current water crisis is a significant concern, and immediate action is required to ensure the well-being of city residents and the continued growth of the local economy.
General Services Office (GSO) head Engr. Neil Ravena said the city will continue to deliver water to the affected barangays until such time the state of calamity due to water shortage is lifted.
The declaration of the state of calamity gave way for the city to use the over P12.5 million from the quick response fund to buy and distribute water.
Ravena explained that while recent rains triggered by the “southwesterly wind flow” due to Typhoon Aghon have replenished the water at Maasin Dam and other raw water sources of the major water distributor here, consumers cannot right away experience an improvement in their water supply.
The distribution of city-procured water targets to serve the 180 barangays but with prioritization to over 25 barangays which are moderately to severely affected.
So far, Ravena said over 3. 6 million liters of water have been delivered to thousands of households in 74 barangays in the city’s seven districts namely City Proper, La Paz, Jaro, Mandurriao, Arevalo, Molo, and Lapuz.
The water rationing scheme started May 15.
The goal of “Oplan Bulig Tubig sa Syudad” is 500,000 liters of water delivered per day, but on their theoretical computation based on individuals affected, they are supposed to deliver 696.9 cubic meters daily, said Ravena.
He had called on barangays to provide static tanks commensurate to their number of affected households.
Ravena said the water rationing is on top of the ongoing water distribution donated by the private sector like the Flo Water Resources Inc. and Bombo Radyo Foundation Inc. in partnership with volunteer groups such as Iloilo City Fire Station, ICAG Volunteer Fire Brigade and Federation Fire Iloilo that bring the water to the barangays.
So far, a total of 807,900 liters of cumulative volume of donated water have been delivered, serving 64 barangays, as of June 1, 2024./PN
