Cebu City Acting Mayor Raymond Alvin Garcia on Wednesday vowed to fast-track the approval of excavation and pipe-laying permits to boost water supply in nine upland villages here.

Garcia said the city government under his watch is committed to working hand-in-hand with Metro Cebu Water District (MCWD) in addressing the water crisis that sent thousands of households in the city and the neighboring service areas without water or into rationing due to lack of water supply amid the El Niño phenomenon.

The acting mayor said he is looking into some permit applications filed last year that were reportedly left unattended at the Cebu City Hall even up to this time.

“These are vital projects of piping. We will resolve the problem of releasing permits for excavation,” Garcia said.

A total of nine upland villages will benefit from the excavation and pipe-laying activities of the water district aimed at solving the lack of water supply affecting households residing in these barangays.

Minerva Gerodias, MCWD’s public information officer, said the supply of water to the nine upland villages was stalled after the city hall did not approve the permit for excavation and laying of pipes.

“It was the promise of MCWD to bring water to the households in these nine barangays. The water is sourced through the Lusaran Bulk Water Supply Project in barangay Lusaran,” Gerodias told the Philippine News Agency. (PNA)

Photo credit: Facebook/metrocebuwater