Cagayan de Oro braces for ‘super’ El Niño water crisis

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY — Facing a looming “super” El Niño, this city is confronting a critical vulnerability: its heavy reliance on a single river for bulk water supply.

The impending dry spell, expected to strike hardest between November and December and persist into early 2027, has prompted local officials and a science watchdog to demand proactive measures from water utilities before taps run dry.

READ: Teodoro seeks ‘expanded’ cooperation as Asean braces for super El Niño

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During a recent City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Department (CDRRMD) council meeting, officials highlighted a major infrastructure chokepoint.

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The city’s bulk water suppliers, JE Hydro and Cagayan de Oro Bulkwater, Inc. (COBI), mainly depend on the Rio Verde consortium, which draws exclusively from the Bubunawan River in Baungon, Bukidnon.

Echoing demands for transparency from the independent watchdog Mindanao Weather Update, CDRRMD Chief Nick Jabagat challenged the Cagayan de Oro Water District (COWD) to issue early warnings.

“They should sound the alarm at the ‘warning’ level, not when it is already at the ‘critical’ level,” Jabagat told the Inquirer, noting that the city’s emergency preparedness hinges entirely on COWD’s real-time monitoring.

While COWD has yet to declare an official status on water reserves, General Manager Engr. Edna Najeal assured the public that the utility is closely tracking the weather bureau’s advisories.

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“Should deliveries drop below contracted volumes, COWD will deploy water tankers to affected communities and push for immediate water conservation,” Najeal responded to the Inquirer’s emailed queries.

Long-term, she pointed to a 10-year development plan to tap alternative groundwater and surface water sources.

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To mitigate immediate risks, the city is working to interconnect bulk supplier pipelines, allowing facilities to bypass low-pressure pumping stations. If upland rains cease entirely, the city will pivot to deep wells.

Jabagat has already outlined an emergency rationing matrix prioritizing hospitals, dialysis centers, and schools.

Residential rationing will be determined by real-time need, targeting areas with low pressure or no water, coordinated through a dedicated rapid-deployment chat group.

The dry spell’s threat extends to public health and agriculture. While solar-powered spring systems are currently aiding upland farmers, Jabagat advised holding off on planting water-intensive crops.

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“Please conserve water and energy,” Jabagat urged residents. “We can do our part in easing the onset of the coming dry months.” /jpv