Treñas pushes water system expansion to reduce Iloilo City’s reliance on shallow wells

Iloilo City Mayor Raisa Treñas is pushing for the completion of water distribution system improvements in the city to reduce reliance on shallow wells following findings linking groundwater extraction to possible land subsidence in some areas.

The findings were presented during the city’s Science and Technology Forum, where groundwater extraction was identified as one of the possible factors contributing to land subsidence.

Treñas said she regularly meets with Metro Pacific Iloilo Water (MPIW) and the Metro Iloilo Water District (MIWD) to monitor the delivery of commitments related to the city’s water system.

“Amo ina ang ginatutukan gid naton ang aton nga water distribution diri sa siyudad. In fact, every month ukon kun kinahanglan twice a month, I meet up with our water distributor, ang Metro Pacific Iloilo Water (MPIW) and ang MIWD to make sure nga ang ginapangayo naton nga deliverables ma-deliver nila,” Treñas said.

She said pipe-laying and replacement of aging water lines are ongoing, along with efforts to extend water connections to areas that remain unserved.

MPIW has 20 pipe-laying projects scheduled for 2026 and another 10 for 2027. Collectively, the projects cover about 157 kilometers of water lines and are expected to reach more than 60 barangays and around 171,000 people.

“Ang iban naton nga pipes very old na. That’s why naga-repiping kita. Ang iban nga areas ginalantaw naton kag gina-work out gid naton together with our water distributor to make sure nga ang tanan nga areas nga wala pa nasudlan sang una, sudlan nila subong,” Treñas said.

The city is also implementing modular desalination projects with a combined capacity of five million liters per day (MLD) for 2026 and 2027. The first 1-MLD facility is targeted to become operational before the end of 2026.

Treñas said the additional water sources are part of the city’s efforts to reduce dependence on shallow wells.

“Ang ini nga mga tikang will make sure nga indi na naton kinahanglanon sa pila ka adlaw ang aton nga mga shallow wells, but may available na gid nga water coming from the main source naton,” she said.

Most of the planned improvements to the city’s water system are expected to be operational by 2028, according to Treñas.

She also said ongoing pipe-laying and replacement projects account for some of the road works currently being undertaken in different parts of the city.IMT