PEP

Desalinated water reaches Cebu network

DT · Sep 11, 2026, 11:21 PM

DURING the ceremonial tapping of desalinated water into the MCWD distribution system in Lapu-Lapu City (from left): Office of the Presidential Assistant for the Visayas Assistant Secretary Mario So, Vivant Water board member Virgilio Rivera Jr., Vivant Water president Atty. Jess Garcia, Vivant Corp. CEO Arlo Sarmiento, Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Ma. Cynthia Chan, MCWD chairman Ruben Almendras, Presidential Assistant for the Visayas Secretary Philip Lo and MCWD general manager Atty. John Dx Lapid. — Photograph courtesy of Vivant

Cebu is strengthening its water security as desalinated water from Isla Mactan Cordova Corp. (IMCC) begins flowing into the distribution system of the Metropolitan Cebu Water District (MCWD).

Newly appointed Presidential Assistant for the Visayas Philip Lo joined officials from Vivant Water, MCWD and the Lapu-Lapu City government at a ceremonial tapping at the water injection point in Barangay Babag II, Lapu-Lapu City.

The ceremony marked the entry of IMCC’s initial 5 million liters per day (MLD) supply into MCWD’s system, serving Lapu-Lapu City and communities across Mactan Island.

The initial supply forms part of a 20,000-cubic-meter commitment under the Joint Venture Agreement signed by MCWD and Vivant Water in April 2025.

The desalination facility is expected to provide an additional, climate-resilient water source for Cebu and serve nearly 30,000 households once fully operational.

The ceremonial activity was attended by Lo, Lapu-Lapu Mayor Ma. Cynthia Chan, MCWD chairman Ruben Almendras, MCWD general manager John Dx Lapid, Vivant Corporation CEO Arlo Sarmiento and Vivant Water President Jess Garcia, among other officials.