TACLOBAN CITY — Tubig Catbalogan Corporation (TCC) has launched an emergency response plan after the city’s water supply system fell to only 30% to 40% of its normal capacity, leaving many households, schools, businesses, and workers with little or no water for several days.
In a statement issued July 16, 2026, TCC apologized to residents affected by the prolonged water shortage and admitted that the company should have acted earlier to detect and repair leaks, improve backup capacity, and develop additional water sources.
The company attributed the crisis to a combination of prolonged dry conditions that depleted water sources, heavy rains that made other sources difficult to treat, power interruptions that disrupted pumping operations, and significant water losses caused by leaks.
To oversee the emergency response, Mark Eric Roxas, chief operations officer of Tubig Pilipinas, has been deployed to Catbalogan to supervise operations and ensure the rapid implementation of response measures and infrastructure projects.
Among the immediate measures being undertaken is the expansion of leak-repair teams from two to four. A second leak-detection team equipped with sonar technology has also been deployed to locate underground leaks that may be contributing to the loss of water in the distribution system.
TCC also began testing a District Metered Area (DMA) rotational piped-water service on July 16. The system is intended to improve water pressure in selected areas while providing scheduled water distribution through existing pipelines.
The company said water delivered by local government unit trucks will remain free to all Catbalogan residents, whether or not they are connected to the TCC system. Additional water trucks will also be deployed, with routes and schedules to be announced through official communication channels.
TCC said it will begin utilizing the Masacpasac water source this month, which is expected to add about five liters of water per second to the system.
The company also plans to upgrade the pumping and filtration facilities that transport water from Caramayon to the Kulador Water Treatment Plant to increase the volume of treated water available for distribution.
A longer-term project, the San Andres–Caramayon–Cagutian water source and pipeline project, is scheduled to begin construction in August 2026 once the required materials arrive. Upon completion and successful testing, the project is expected to provide up to 15 million liters of water per day.
TCC urged residents to help address the crisis by reporting visible leaks and broken pipes, conserving water, and avoiding the use of unauthorized booster pumps directly connected to the main distribution line.
The company said unauthorized booster pumps can reduce water pressure for neighboring households.
The water crisis has forced many Catbalogan residents to rely on water containers and deliveries as the city’s water distribution system struggles with depleted sources, infrastructure problems, and operational disruptions.
TCC thanked the city government of Catbalogan, the Catbalogan Water District, barangay officials, emergency responders, and residents for their assistance during the crisis.
The company said it would continue to release updates on repair work, DMA schedules, water-truck routes, and the progress of water infrastructure projects through its official communication channels.
(ROEL T. AMAZONA)
