Lawmakers lament: Cebu City ill-prepared against El Niño effects

Local

CEBU CITY Council on Tuesday, May 26, questioned the city government’s repetitive and short-term response to recurring drought crises.

The council warned that upland communities and farmers remain vulnerable as a severe El Niño episode threatens to worsen water shortages this year.

During an executive session, members of the Cebu City Council pressed officials from the City Agriculture Department (CAD) and the Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CCDRRMO) over the city’s preparedness measures for the dry season, particularly for upland farmers who suffered heavy losses during previous droughts.

The discussion stemmed from a resolution sponsored by Councilor Pastor “Jun” Alcover Jr., seeking updates on the city’s preparations and interventions for farmers expected to be affected by prolonged dry conditions.

Alcover opened the hearing by asking CAD officials what “concrete plans” had been put in place to avoid repeating what he called the failures experienced during the last drought.

“Last drought, dili to komedya. Daghan kaayo problema, daghan kaayo mga mag-uuma nga nagpiyait tungod sa way tubig,” Alcover said.

CAD head Joey Baclayon said the department began preparations as early as January after warnings of El Niño conditions emerged. These included conducting service caravans in barangays, registering farmers, assessing farm conditions, and evaluating irrigation facilities.

Baclayon said the city has more than 13,000 registered farmers spread across 28 upland barangays cultivating around 8,800 hectares of farmland and engaged in major agricultural activities, including crop production, hog raising, poultry, and livestock.

However, he admitted that the city’s irrigation capability remains severely limited.

Of the 44 irrigation facilities servicing Cebu City farmers, only 21 are currently operational, with many already affected by drought conditions.

Baclayon said the department had repeatedly requested funding for irrigation rehabilitation and drought mitigation measures, including P10 million for irrigation repairs and P15 million for farm inputs such as hoses, drums, fertilizers, seeds, and solar-powered pumps.

“Sadly, wala gihapon naapil sa supplemental budget,” Baclayon told the council.

He said the department lacked sufficient funding to fully implement long-term drought interventions.

But councilors questioned why the city still appeared to be relying on emergency water deliveries and temporary fixes despite years of recurring dry-season problems.

Alcover pointed out that during previous droughts, the city scrambled to deploy water tankers to upland barangays because irrigation systems failed to provide a sufficient water supply.

“Knowing nga duna tay problema sa tubig sa bukid, unsa may hustong solution para sa countryside?” he asked.

The discussion later shifted to the management of irrigation systems in Cebu City after Baclayon clarified that the facilities are under the control of the National Irrigation Administration (NIA), not the city government.

That revelation drew frustration from council members, who questioned the extent of Cebu City’s authority and coordination with the NIA.

Alcover said many residents may have been led to believe that Cebu City had its own irrigation network when, in reality, operations were dependent on a national agency.

“Cebu City walay klaro nga irrigation system. It is run by NIA, not ours,” Alcover said.

He also demanded copies of any memorandum of agreement (MOA) between the city and NIA to determine the responsibilities of both parties.

“Kung magsige ta hisgot sa irrigation sa NIA, then wala tay control or command ana, useless atong preparation,” he added.

Presiding Officer Sisinio Andales echoed the concern and instructed the department to submit copies of the agreements for council review.

“Every year this is recurring. It seems like the department is not prepared for the forthcoming El Niño,” Andales said.

Baclayon explained that several irrigation systems had become non-operational due to inadequate power supply, declining water sources, and high electricity costs.

He added that the city currently subsidizes electricity expenses for 18 irrigation facilities managed by irrigation associations.

The council also scrutinized the city’s continued procurement of water drums, hoses, and barrels, with lawmakers arguing that these measures did little to solve the long-term water crisis in upland farming communities.

“Mao nay problema kay gasige nalang tag baril,” Alcover said, questioning where the repeated purchases of water containers had gone over the years.

Committee on Budget and Finance chairperson Councilor Dave Tumulak likewise raised concerns over the absence of a sustained water preservation strategy in previous budgets.

“Hopefully next year dili nalang ta sige discuss og El Niño without long-term solutions,” Tumulak said.

Tumulak also revealed during the hearing that a P10-million allocation for irrigation system construction had already been approved under Supplemental Budget No. 1 for 2026, a development Baclayon initially appeared unaware of.

The exchange prompted Andales to describe the situation as a “miscommunication” between the council and the agriculture department.

“The budget is already approved. Ngano wala man ka kabalo?” Andales asked.

Councilor Harry Eran also proposed investing in city-operated pumping systems and reservoirs to reduce farmers’ dependence on costly irrigation charges and improve water sustainability in upland areas.

Despite the criticism, Baclayon maintained that the department had already identified areas requiring rehabilitation and was pushing for the use of solar-powered pumps to lower operating costs and improve sustainability.

Still, lawmakers stressed that Cebu City could no longer afford to respond to droughts through temporary and reactive measures alone, especially with projections of worsening heat conditions in the coming months.

“Gabalik-balik nalang walay solution,” Alcover said.(TGP)