Cebu water crisis worsens as power outages persist

Cebu Electricity Rights Advocates (CERA) warned that Cebu Province is facing an intensifying water shortage as prolonged and uneven power restoration continues to cripple pumping stations outside Metro Cebu.

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The group, in a statement said the widening disparity in recovery speeds between the metropolitan area and outlying municipalities has left thousands of households grappling with dry taps, deteriorating sanitation, and heightened public health risks.

CERA cited recurring water service interruptions as a direct consequence of the province's unstable electrical grid, where even short outages trigger major disruptions in water supply.

"The pattern is alarming," CERA convenor Nathaniel Chua said. "Metro Cebu recovers quickly, while many communities in the province endure days without power and water. Urban centers deserve protection, but that cannot come at the expense of neighboring municipalities."