TACLOBAN CITY – The Catbalogan City government has suspended face-to-face classes and placed most local government employees under work-from-home arrangements as a worsening water shortage continues to disrupt daily life despite improving weather conditions.
Mayor Dexter Uy announced the emergency measures, saying the prolonged lack of water has become a serious public concern affecting thousands of residents, schools, businesses, and government operations.
In a statement, the city government said several parts of Catbalogan continue to experience little to no water supply even after heavy rains have subsided, prompting the local government to adopt temporary measures while seeking immediate solutions from the city’s water service providers.
The City Mayor’s Office and the Sangguniang Panlungsod said they have repeatedly sought a comprehensive explanation from Tubig Catbalogan Corporation (TCC) and the Catbalogan Water District (CWD) regarding the continuing supply disruption.
According to the city government, residents have received repeated assurances that the situation would improve, but the water shortage has instead worsened, affecting households, schools, and businesses across the city.
“The lack of water is no longer a simple inconvenience but a public emergency that affects the health, sanitation, education, and daily lives of our people,” the city government said.
To mitigate the impact of the crisis, the city government ordered the suspension of in-person classes in both public and private schools and directed most city government employees to work from home, except personnel assigned to peace and order, disaster risk reduction and management, health and sanitation, and traffic management. Other government agencies and private establishments were encouraged to adopt similar work arrangements where feasible.
Mayor Uy also directed officials of Tubig Catbalogan Corporation and the Catbalogan Water District to meet with the city government and present a detailed report on the causes of the water shortage and the specific measures being undertaken to restore normal service.
The city also ordered the intensification of water rationing operations, immediate action to address operational issues caused by power outages and high water turbidity, and a legal review of the existing agreement between TCC and CWD to determine whether the contract should be maintained, amended, or terminated.
In addition, the City Legal Office was instructed to study possible relief measures for consumers affected by the prolonged service interruption, including adjustments in water service charges.
The city government said it expects the concerned water providers to implement concrete and long-term solutions to restore a stable and reliable water supply for Catbalogan residents as soon as possible.
(ROEL T. AMAZONA, LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA)
