The Lapu-Lapu City Government has launched the third year of its “Sawra ang Ulan: Limpyong Tubig Gikan sa Kahitas-an” program, encouraging households and communities to harvest and reuse rainwater to improve water security and help reduce flooding.
The initiative, spearheaded by the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Department (CDRRMD), forms part of the city’s continuing disaster preparedness and water management efforts.
Assistant City Administrator and Officer-in-Charge of the CDRRMD Nagiel Bañacia said the program encourages families to take a more active role in conserving water, particularly during the rainy season when large volumes of rainfall often go unused.
Bañacia said the initiative promotes household-level action to strengthen water security while helping the city improve its preparedness during emergencies.
Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Ma. Cynthia “Cindi” King-Chan emphasized the importance of rainwater harvesting, especially for island communities where water supply remains limited.
“Sawra ang Ulan is so vital. During the rainy season, nature gives us an abundance of water, but a huge part of it just goes to waste,” Chan said.
“By implementing rainwater harvesting, we are turning that rainfall into an immediate, sustainable lifeline,” she added.
Chan said harvested rainwater can provide households with an additional source of clean water, particularly during supply interruptions.
She added that the initiative also contributes to flood mitigation by reducing the amount of stormwater runoff flowing into streets and drainage systems.
“In our urban areas, collecting rainwater serves a dual purpose. It strengthens our communal water supply and captures stormwater runoff before it reaches our streets, helping reduce localized flooding,” she said.
As part of the program, the city has opened this year’s search for the most innovative rainwater catchment systems under two categories: household and community.
The Sawra ang Ulan sa Kabalayan (household category) offers a grand prize of P30,000, while the Sawra ang Ulan sa Komyunidad (community category) carries a top prize of P70,000.
Philippine Disaster Resilience Foundation Executive Director Veronica Gabaldon said participation in the program has steadily increased since it was introduced in 2024, reflecting stronger community involvement in water conservation and disaster resilience initiatives.
Representatives from community organizations, non-government organizations and national government agencies attended the program launch, demonstrating broad support for the city’s efforts to strengthen water security and disaster preparedness.
Photo courtesy of Lapu-Lapu PIO
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