TALISAY CITY, Cebu – Talisay City is planning to put up water stations in different barangays as one of its preparations against the possible effects of the Super El Niño. This is according to a Facebook post by Mayor Gerald Anthony "Samsam" Gullas Jr., who said the goal is to give residents faster and easier access to water, especially in the mountain barangays and other hard-to-reach areas, in case the dry spell gets worse in the coming months.
In his post, Gullas said this is still just a proposal. It will be presented and discussed further during the city's Disaster Council meeting, where they will decide on the locations, schedule, and other details.
"We hope that through this initiative, ma lessen nato ang atong problema sa tubig. We will continue doing our best to provide for our constituents, using all the resources available to us to serve them better," said Talisay City Mayor Gerald Anthony "Samsam" Gullas Jr.
Why this matters now
This is not just a Talisay problem. Last April 2026, PAGASA already raised its alert level to "El Niño Alert," which means there is a bigger chance of dry spells and drought hitting many parts of the country in the coming months.
Other areas are already feeling it. In Region 2 and CAR, the DSWD has been keeping an eye on farmers whose harvests were hit by the dry weather. And in Oriental Mindoro, the town of Puerto Galera already declared a State of Calamity last June 2026 because of water shortage — 13 barangays were affected, with around 2,050 families or 10,250 people feeling the impact on their harvest and income.
Weather forecasters expect El Niño to get even stronger in the second half of 2026, meaning less rain and higher temperatures for many parts of the country. Water supply and agriculture are expected to be hit the hardest, which could also affect people's livelihood, health, and daily life. So it makes sense that Talisay wants to get ready early instead of waiting for the water shortage to actually happen before acting.
Putting up water stations is not really a new idea — other LGUs have done similar things before — but doing it ahead of time, before the water crisis hits, is the part that stands out here.
The plan so far
Right now, Talisay City has two water tankers:
First tanker – This one will deliver water to the different barangays, including those in the urban areas. Mountain barangays will be prioritized first, then the coastal areas, then the rest, depending on who needs it most. The city will coordinate with the barangays to make a schedule, so they can serve one area per sitio at a time and rotate around to reach as many communities as possible.
Second tanker – This one is on standby, mainly for emergencies like fire incidents in the city.
The city admits that their water supply is limited, especially if the dry spell drags on for a long time. That's why they say planning ahead and using their resources wisely is important, so that the water really goes to the communities that need it most.
Good to know
There's no exact date, time, or location yet for the water stations — this will still be finalized during the Disaster Council meeting. There's also no mention yet of a budget or how many barangays will be covered. Residents can watch out for updates on Mayor Gullas's Facebook page or from the Talisay City government.
QUICK SUMMARY
What: Talisay City is planning water stations in barangays to prepare for Super El Niño
Where: Talisay City, Cebu
When: Details will be finalized at the Disaster Council meeting; no fixed date yet
Who benefits: Talisay City residents, especially in mountain and coastal barangays
Source: Official Facebook post of Talisay City Mayor Gerald Anthony "Samsam" Gullas Jr.