‘Let’s solve water crisis before fiesta’

By Jason B. Neola

THE Metropolitan Naga Water District (MNWD) confirmed during a meeting convened by Mayor Nelson Legacion on Wednesday, August 21, that its concessionaires are indeed facing a water crisis.

According to MNWD officials, the water shortage is primarily due to the El Niño phenomenon, which caused a nearly 50% decrease in groundwater production from the springs in Barangay Curry, Pili, and Barangay Panicuason, Naga, compared to the same period last year.

In a strategic move to tackle the poor supply of potable water in the city and several towns under the jurisdiction of the Metropolitan Naga Water District (MNWD), Ex-Officio City Councilor Corazon Peñaflor, who represents the Liga ng mga Barangay in the Sangguniang Panlungsod, has proposed inviting the general manager of MNWD and the members of its board of directors to the regular session next week.

The presence of MNWD officials is expected to shed light on the situation, which water concessionaires have described as a water crisis. The MNWD is a government-owned and controlled corporation (GOCC).

The MNWD stated that to meet the city’s water demand, a daily supply of no less than 15,000 liters per second is required. To address the shortage, the MNWD plans to construct eight additional pumping stations, supplementing the 30 already in operation.

Concessionaires have been facing the problem since July this year. The water company has attributed the shortage to springs and other water sources drying up due to the El Niño phenomenon, which began in June 2023.

“The situation we are experiencing today is an aftermath of the drought that began in mid-2023,” said MNWD spokesperson Jesus Salvador dela Cruz.

Dela Cruz was referring to the time when the Bicol Region experienced an increasing heat index, which the country’s weather bureau PAGASA classified as at a “dangerous” level (reaching 42°C to 51°C), potentially causing heat stroke and heat exhaustion.

Voicing the concerns of her fellow barangay officials about the inadequate water supply expected to continue into September, Peñaflor urged MNWD officials to meet with local legislators in a full session to explore possible solutions to the problem.

September is the month when the Peñafrancia fiesta is celebrated. This event, regarded as the grandest Marian festival in Southeast Asia, draws pilgrims, devotees, tourists, and guests from across the country and abroad.

Over a million people visit Naga City for the festival, and an even larger crowd is expected this year as the Catholic Church marks the 100th year of the canonical coronation of Nuestra Señora de Peñafrancia, patroness of Bicolandia.

“I cannot imagine our situation if we do not have an adequate supply of water during the fiesta, with an immeasurable number of visitors coming to our city and staying with us for several days,” Peñaflor said.

She emphasized that while a person can survive without food for days, it is impossible for him/her to survive without water.

In its efforts to meet water demand, the MNWD is undertaking several water pump and waterline development projects. However, its proposal for the Yabu River Surface Water Treatment Plant was recently disapproved by the National Water Resources Board (NWRB).

Mayor Legacion expressed confidence that the MNWD would find solutions to pursue the disapproved projects and requested the water district to draft a Motion for Reconsideration, which he will review before submitting it to the NWRB.

The city government and the MNWD are open to exploring alternative solutions, including constructing a dam and identifying new surface and groundwater sources, to meet the water needs of Naga City and the surrounding towns within the MNWD’s service area.

During the meeting, the MNWD admitted that it had failed in its responsibility to adequately inform its concessionaires about the water shortage and issue timely alerts.

The MNWD also announced plans to open valves for a free flow of water from the upper barangays to the lower barangays, where residential, business, and commercial zones are located. This free flow will be available from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM daily from September 12 to September 23 during the Peñafrancia fiesta.

While this approach aims to ensure adequate water supply in the lower-lying barangays during the fiesta, it will result in a slight water shortage in the upper barangays, particularly in Pacol, Cararayan, Carolina, and Panicuason.

In response, Mayor Legacion requested that the MNWD extend the operation of its pumping stations from 20 hours to 21-22 hours per day in the lead-up to the fiesta.

The city government and MNWD officials are scheduled to meet again on August 28 to further explore solutions if the water district fails to resolve the supply issues.