MARIT STINUS-CABUGON
METRO Cebu is experiencing a water supply crisis. Water supply for domestic use has long been tight with demand exceeding supply. This year’s El Niño has placed the Metro Cebu Water District’s operations under further strain with major water sources drying up due to the drought. Cebu suffered an 80 percent drop in average rainfall in the months of February and March, according to Pag-Asa, and the situation has not improved. The result is that the Buhisan Dam, one of MCWD’s two dams, reached zero production in late March. Jaclupan Dam, on the other hand, was producing 10,000 cubic meters daily as of end-April, down from an average daily production of 33,000 cubic meters.