Guv: Fast-track work

CEBU, Philippines — Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia has urged private contractors to fast-track the desilting efforts on the two major rivers in Metro Cebu that serve as the main source of water supply in several places on the island.

An ongoing desilting activity is being conducted in the Mananga River in Talisay City and the Lusaran River in Cebu City to restore the deepness of both rivers, which are major water sources in Metro Cebu.

In a meeting with the private contractors and local officials on Dec. 11 at the Capitol, Garcia urged the contractors to complete the desilting efforts immediately to address the water crisis in major cities and towns in Cebu.

The desilting exploration covers the 15-kilometer Mananga River and the 6.5-kilometer Lusaran River. The process involves removing silt, sand, solid deposits, or any matter that builds up and obstructs the water flow.

Garcia emphasized that clearing the river beds of obstructions will allow the water to flow freely which would also help avoid water deposits buildup.

The desilting efforts started last May, with Capitol leading the initiative in partnership with the Metro Cebu Water District (MCWD), as Cebu is facing a water crisis.

Instead of 30,000 cubic meters of water like it used two, the two rivers have delivered lesser supply for Metro Cebu recently.

The Lusaran River supply has dropped to just 8,000 cubic meters of water daily, while that from Mananga River decreased to 6, 000 cubic meters a day, as per a report by Sugbo News, the Capitol’s news portal.

Garcia already issued special permits to the private contractors tasked to do the desilting works.

In June this year, MCWD reported that the water production has improved already since the start of the desilting activity.

Now, the governor wanted to fast-track the said efforts to address future water crisis in Cebu.

Department of Environment and Natural Resources-7 Executive Director Paquito Melicor, Environmental Management Bureau-7 Engineer Mary Ann Bueno, Talisay City Mayor Samsam Gullas, Cebu City Administrator Kristine Joyce Batucan, and representatives from the private contractors were present during the Dec. 11 meeting with the governor.

During the meeting, officials also discussed preparations for “CarbonPH,” which is a watershed restoration effort in the riverbanks of Mananga and Lusaran.

The multiyear reforestation and watershed recovery project covers the Central Cebu Protected Landscape and encompasses a total land area of around 29,000 hectares, which stretches across the cities of Cebu, Talisay, Toledo, and Danao and the towns of Minglanilla, Consolacion, Liloan, Compostela and Balamban. (CEBU NEWS)