HISTORYAt the onset of the 1900s, densely populated Cebu City’s only water sources were shallow wells, which were easily contaminated by surface water, and small springs; as deep wells were usually unproductive. The island has no major rivers, so rains quickly drain into the sea. Cebu’s topography and climate worsened its sanitary problems. Fire and epidemics frequently victimized the city; in 1909 Cebu suffered the worst cholera epidemic in its history as hundreds of its 55,000 people died.In 1910 the then Cebu Municipal Council created the Osmeña Waterworks Systems (OWS), which first major water source, the Buhisan Dam, was officially inaugurated in 1912 along with a storage reservoir and some 95 new fire hydrants.By the 1970s, OWS suffered deficits and was subsidized annually with about PhP1 million by the Cebu City Government. At that time, its 12 water sources produced some 15,000 cubic meters per day that served some 10,600 concessionaires.THE BIRTH OF MCWDThen PD 198 or the Local Water Utilities Act of 1973 promised loan, training and other assistance to autonomous water districts, the Cebu City Government under the mayorship of Engr. Eulogio Borres approved Resolution No. 873 on May 9, 1974 to create the Metropolitan Cebu Water District (MCWD), and Resolution No. 1378 on July 18, 1974 to specify that component cities and municipalities must share in subsidy or counterpart funds when needed. Now honored as the Father of MCWD, Mayor Borres then turned over P25.4 million worth of OWS assets and facilities to MCWD - the Buhisan Dam, the Tisa Filter Plant, the Jagobiao Spring facility, ten wells, the Betania reservoir and a bodega in Lahug.
HISTORYAt the onset of the 1900s, densely populated Cebu City’s only water sources were shallow wells, which were easily contaminated by surface water, and small springs; as deep wells were usually unproductive. The island has no major rivers, so rains quickly drain into the sea. Cebu’s topography and climate worsened its sanitary problems. Fire and epidemics frequently victimized the city; in 1909 Cebu suffered the worst cholera epidemic in its history as hundreds of its 55,000 people died.In 1910 the then Cebu Municipal Council created the Osmeña Waterworks Systems (OWS), which first major water source, the Buhisan Dam, was officially inaugurated in 1912 along with a storage reservoir and some 95 new fire hydrants.By the 1970s, OWS suffered deficits and was subsidized annually with about PhP1 million by the Cebu City Government. At that time, its 12 water sources produced some 15,000 cubic meters per day that served some 10,600 concessionaires.THE BIRTH OF MCWDThen PD 198 or the Local Water Utilities Act of 1973 promised loan, training and other assistance to autonomous water districts, the Cebu City Government under the mayorship of Engr. Eulogio Borres approved Resolution No. 873 on May 9, 1974 to create the Metropolitan Cebu Water District (MCWD), and Resolution No. 1378 on July 18, 1974 to specify that component cities and municipalities must share in subsidy or counterpart funds when needed. Now honored as the Father of MCWD, Mayor Borres then turned over P25.4 million worth of OWS assets and facilities to MCWD - the Buhisan Dam, the Tisa Filter Plant, the Jagobiao Spring facility, ten wells, the Betania reservoir and a bodega in Lahug.
HISTORYAt the onset of the 1900s, densely populated Cebu City’s only water sources were shallow wells, which were easily contaminated by surface water, and small springs; as deep wells were usually unproductive. The island has no major rivers, so rains quickly drain into the sea. Cebu’s topography and climate worsened its sanitary problems. Fire and epidemics frequently victimized the city; in 1909 Cebu suffered the worst cholera epidemic in its history as hundreds of its 55,000 people died.In 1910 the then Cebu Municipal Council created the Osmeña Waterworks Systems (OWS), which first major water source, the Buhisan Dam, was officially inaugurated in 1912 along with a storage reservoir and some 95 new fire hydrants.By the 1970s, OWS suffered deficits and was subsidized annually with about PhP1 million by the Cebu City Government. At that time, its 12 water sources produced some 15,000 cubic meters per day that served some 10,600 concessionaires.THE BIRTH OF MCWDThen PD 198 or the Local Water Utilities Act of 1973 promised loan, training and other assistance to autonomous water districts, the Cebu City Government under the mayorship of Engr. Eulogio Borres approved Resolution No. 873 on May 9, 1974 to create the Metropolitan Cebu Water District (MCWD), and Resolution No. 1378 on July 18, 1974 to specify that component cities and municipalities must share in subsidy or counterpart funds when needed. Now honored as the Father of MCWD, Mayor Borres then turned over P25.4 million worth of OWS assets and facilities to MCWD - the Buhisan Dam, the Tisa Filter Plant, the Jagobiao Spring facility, ten wells, the Betania reservoir and a bodega in Lahug.