BACOLOD CITY: There is not enough water to meet the city's demand.

This was admitted by Bacolod Mayor Alfredo Abelardo "Albee" Benitez on Sunday, saying the city needs an additional 50 million liters per day.

During his radio program Isugid Kay Mayor on FMR Bacolod 91.1 on Sunday, John Arlan Canatoy of the Bacolod City Water District (Baciwa)-Primewater told the mayor that Bacolod City consumes 75 million liters of water a day and is still short by 20 million liters.

Benitez, however, said the estimate of Baciwa is "way too low as it was limited to consumers connected to the water system."

"It does not anticipate the future growth of Bacolod," Benitez pointed out.

The mayor said he will call for an emergency meeting this week with the management of the Baciwa-Primewater, bulk water suppliers and representatives from concerned national government agencies to talk about the water shortage.

Canatoy said the delivery of water in some areas of Bacolod is normal while in some areas there is "zero to four hours of supply a day."

"The water problem is worsened by the drop in the bulk water supply provided by suppliers," he said.

The water facility has existing contracts for bulk water outside Bacolod, Canatoy said.

But other suppliers will take several years before the actual delivery of water, he added.

Benitez said he will also meet with the mayors of Bago, Murcia and Talisay on how Bacolod can tap their resources for the city's water needs.

"The complaints against the water district are mounting," Benitez said.

The Philippine Red Cross (PRC), in a statement on Friday, January 12, said they provided a water tanker to Barangay Mandalagan, Bacolod City in response to the struggles of communities with the constant water interruptions.

The PRC reported that since January 4, more than 600 households have been struggling with water interruptions that resulted in local residents having "limited to no access to clean water" for several days.

Approximately 123 affected families in the barangay received around 35,000 liters of water from January 9 to 11, the PRC reported.