In a town once known as ‘Tubig,’ residents lose sleep waiting for water

EASTERN SAMAR, Philippines – “Kalbaryo.”

This is how Dayan Hilario-Cebreros describes the state of the water supply in Taft, Eastern Samar.

A working mother of three, Dayan often remains awake at 2 a.m., staring at a dry tap, while the rest of Taft slumbers.

In this town, which, ironically, was once known as Tubig for its abundant water sources, water interruptions have become part of the daily routine.

When the water does arrive in the early morning hours, the pressure is often too weak to reach the faucets inside their house. It is also usually brown and murky. This means residents need to let the sediments settle before the water can be used.

Because of this, Dayan, an instructor at Eastern Samar State University (ESSU), often has to spend the early hours of the morning storing water for household needs before preparing to go to work.

The Taft River could become the municipality’s primary water source, with the Taft Water District (TWD) estimating that it could yield more than 68 million liters of water a day. This is enough to supply not just the needs of the municipality but also those of neighboring towns.

But bringing that water to households requires hundreds of millions in investments. Such an initiative will require the support of local authorities.

Dependent on ground water

TWD general manager James Francis Chicano attributes the recurring shortages to the fact that the municipality relies heavily on groundwater wells for its water supply needs. While naturally filtered and generally protected from flood contamination, the wells depend on rainfall for recharge, making them vulnerable during prolonged dry periods. 

As demand rises during the dry season months, the district is often forced to extract more groundwater than the aquifer can replenish. 

This disturbs sediments at the bottom of the wells, resulting in the brownish water that many consumers receive.

The district currently operates three pumping stations and is constructing a fourth. Chicano, however, acknowledged that, as long as Taft continues to rely on groundwater, these measures will provide only temporary relief. Even the additional well will eventually become depleted during the dry season.

Investment requirements

Bringing the town’s vast water resources to households, however, requires far more than drawing it from the river. 

To deliver safe, potable water to almost 18,700 Tubignons across all Taft’s 24 barangays, the Taft Water District will need to spend more than ₱300 million for water quality testing, treatment facilities, and distribution infrastructure, according to Chicano. 

This amount is nearly twice the annual income of the municipality. As of January 1, 2025, Taft, Eastern Samar falls under the category of a 3rd-class municipality. This means it has an annual average income ranging from ₱130 million to less than ₱160 million.

Under Presidential Decree No. 198 (Provincial Water Utilities Act of 1973), water districts may secure funding for such undertakings through five primary sources:

• Collection of water service fees and charges (primary source of revenue)
• Loans from the Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA)
• Negotiable promissory notes (short-term borrowing, up to two years)
• Revenue bonds (long-term financing for infrastructure projects)
• Other revenues and district funds managed and disbursed by the water district in accordance with the law (e.g., deposits, trust funds, and other authorized receipts)

Out of the five options, Chicano said TWD has tried pursuing the first two (increasing service fees and securing loans). The remaining three require significant, “very technical” paperwork, he explained.

He noted however that the loan they were able to secure from LWUA was only for building an additional deep well. Borrowing the P300 million for the bigger project is beyond the financial capacity of TWD, however.  Without external support, securing the level of financing required for this project could also expose the water district to significant financial risk.

“Medyo dako kasi in na project which will cover the 24 barangays of Taft. Need daman hin dako na fund.” (It is a large project that will cover all 24 barangays of Taft and will require substantial funding.) 

Significant financial risk

Water districts largely rely on the water service fees they collect from local consumers. Such fees cover operating costs, including pumping, electricity, employee salaries, repairs and maintenance, and water treatment and quality testing.

Given these, Chicano is cautious over taking on a large financial obligation without the backing of local authorities. 

The district has begun discussions over a bulk water supply partnership with the Taft local government. The project is still in its early stages, with site inspections completed, and water testing underway. 

TWD is hoping to complete the project by the third quarter of 2026. Verbally, the leadership of the local government has committed to help, Chicano said. 

Rappler tried to get an interview with either the Taft municipal mayor or a representative of the local government to discuss the municipality’s recurring water shortages. Despite several follow-ups through email and chat, our request for an interview has yet to be granted.

On July 12, a scheduled virtual interview with a local government representative, which had been confirmed by the mayor’s secretary, did not materialize. This story will be updated when we get the local government’s perspective on the matter.

Higher fees expected

If the partnership does push through, residents will need to contend with higher consumer fees because the water district will need to pay for loans. 

TWD said there are still no concrete projections on how much more it would need to charge consumers as of this posting. 

“Waray pa concrete. Still in the process of hitting projections.” (There is nothing concrete yet. We are still in the process of making projections.) 

Chicano adds, however, that all rate increases need to be approved and evaluated by LWUA. 

While funding for the project remains pending, the water district implemented water rationing during the town fiesta as demand increased amid the festivities.

To address complaints over the murky water,  it has advised consumers to let the water run until it became clear.

For Dayan, however, this last recommendation only meant a higher water bill. 

After yet another night without water, she appealed to the water district and the local government to work together to provide paying consumers with the service they are billed for. 

“Isipin niyo naman kaming mga paying consumers na sinisingil ninyo buwan-buwan pero wala naman kayong naibibigay na tubig sa amin. Mag-usap kayong dalawa kung paano ninyo matutulungan ang mga taong nangangailangan ng tulong ninyo.”

(Think about us, your paying consumers, who are billed every month even though you are not providing us with water. Talk to each other and figure out how you can help the people who rely on your services.) – Rappler.com

Jennifer Jezreel Kaye Pading is an economics student at Visayas State University in Baybay City in Leyte. An Aries Rufo Journalism Fellow for 2026, she is also the executive editor of Amaranth and community officer of AYEJ-Leyte Panaad Ha Sinirangan .