LAPU-LAPU CITY, CEBU — A new source of potable water is now flowing into Lapu-Lapu City, marking another major step in Cebu’s efforts to strengthen its water security amid rising demand and mounting pressure on groundwater resources.
The development involves desalinated water from Isla Mactan Cordova Corp. (IMCC), a subsidiary of Vivant Water, which has begun entering the Metropolitan Cebu Water District (MCWD) distribution system.
The initial supply stands at 5,000 cubic meters per day, or 5 million liters daily, with the water now reaching communities across Mactan Island through a connection at a water injection point in Barangay Babag II, Lapu-Lapu City.
The ceremonial tapping at Babag II on August 28 underscored the significance of bringing an alternative water source directly into the MCWD network.
But officials say the 5 MLD currently flowing is only part of a much larger plan.
From 5 million liters to 20 million liters a day
The initial 5 MLD delivery forms part of a 20,000-cubic-meter-per-day commitment under the joint venture agreement between MCWD and Vivant Water signed in April 2025.
Once the full committed volume is delivered, the project is expected to provide enough water to support nearly 30,000 households, according to Vivant Water.
That makes the project particularly significant for Metro Cebu, where population growth, commercial activity and industrial expansion continue to put pressure on existing water sources.
MCWD General Manager John DX Lapid said the additional supply would help improve the reliability of the water system while preparing the region for continued growth and climate variability.
MCWD Chairman Ruben Almendras likewise emphasized the need to look for alternatives as Cebu’s groundwater resources come under increasing stress.
Cebu has historically relied heavily on groundwater, but prolonged and excessive extraction can contribute to declining water tables and saltwater intrusion. Officials have increasingly pushed for diversification of water sources rather than relying too heavily on a single supply base.
Why desalination matters for Mactan
Unlike conventional water sources that depend on groundwater, rivers or reservoirs, desalination uses seawater and removes dissolved salts and other impurities to produce potable water.
For an island community such as Mactan, the approach offers an important strategic advantage: the sea provides a potentially dependable source that does not depend on the recovery of underground aquifers.
Vivant Water President Jess Anthony Garcia described desalination as another option for reducing pressure on Cebu’s groundwater while improving the resilience of the region’s water system.
The timing is also significant.
Cebu’s continuing urban and economic growth means demand for water is unlikely to ease. That makes alternative sources increasingly important—not only for households but also for businesses, tourism facilities and other establishments throughout Metro Cebu.
Lapu-Lapu has another major desalination project in the pipeline
The new MCWD supply should not be confused with another major desalination initiative being developed specifically for Lapu-Lapu City.
In 2025, Cebu Summa Water Lapu-Lapu Inc. (CSWLL) secured a P1.41-billion financing agreement with Security Bank to develop desalination facilities in the city.
The project includes a 20-million-liter-per-day desalination plant in Punta Engaño and a 500-cubic-meter-per-day facility in Olango Island’s Barangay Sta. Rosa.
The initial phase is designed to benefit approximately 5,500 households—around 5,000 households in Punta Engaño and another 500 in Olango Island.
These communities have historically faced water-supply difficulties, with some residents depending on water tankers.
The CSWLL project is part of a longer-term arrangement between the Lapu-Lapu City government and the private sector. The joint venture was established in 2019, while the project received its Notice to Proceed in May 2024.
The company’s longer-term plan envisions the capacity to supply up to 60 million liters per day of desalinated seawater to Lapu-Lapu City through a large-scale seawater reverse-osmosis system.
Another desalination facility is already operating in Mactan
Lapu-Lapu is also benefiting from another desalination facility developed by Aboitiz InfraCapital Water.
Its MEZ2 Desalination Facility in the Mactan Economic Zone 2 began operations in June 2025 and has a rated capacity of 5 MLD. The facility treats brackish water using reverse osmosis and advanced filtration.
It supplies potable water to locators and workers in MEZ2 and the Mactan-Cebu International Airport. During the 2025 Cebu earthquake and Typhoon Tino, the facility also supplied more than 500,000 liters of potable water to affected communities in Cebu.
This means desalination is no longer merely a proposed solution for Mactan—it is becoming part of the region’s actual water infrastructure.
Cebu’s water strategy is changing
The latest development signals a broader shift in how Metro Cebu approaches water security.
Instead of relying primarily on groundwater, officials and private-sector partners are increasingly looking at a combination of sources, including desalinated water and other bulk-water projects.
The immediate 5 MLD supply reaching Lapu-Lapu may therefore be modest compared with the region’s total water demand, but its strategic importance is much bigger.
It demonstrates that seawater can be converted into potable water and integrated into the existing MCWD distribution network.
And if the planned expansion to 20 MLD proceeds as expected, thousands more households across Mactan and Metro Cebu could eventually benefit.
For Lapu-Lapu, where development continues to accelerate, the bigger question is no longer whether desalination can become part of the city’s water solution—it is how quickly these projects can scale up to keep pace with demand.
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