METROPOLITAN Cebu Water District (MCWD) has begun receiving desalinated water from Isla Mactan Cordova Corp., a Vivant Water subsidiary, marking the start of commercial deliveries under a 20,000-cubic-meter supply agreement.

Initial delivery, which began on July 1, provides 5,000 cubic meters of potable water to MCWD’s distribution network. Supply will scale up in phases to the full 20,000-cubic-meter daily commitment as intake systems stabilize.

Once fully operational, the desalination plant is expected to serve nearly 30,000 households in Metro Cebu.

“The MCWD administration has been actively looking for partners who understand the urgency of Cebu’s water needs and share our vision of serving Cebuanos better,” MCWD general manager John Dx Lapid said.

MCWD chairman Ruben Almendras said the project strengthens the utility’s water supply while supporting Cebu’s long-term development. “With Vivant Water, we found a company that sees this situation through the same lens. This is about bringing additional water supply to the communities we serve while building stronger foundations for Cebu’s future,” he said.

The deliveries stem from a joint venture agreement MCWD and Vivant Water signed in April 2025 for 20,000 cubic meters of desalinated water daily to Metro Cebu.

Vivant Corp. CEO Arlo Sarmiento said, “Before we speak of a sustainable tomorrow, we must first help sustain what is needed here at home.”

Vivant Water president Jess Anthony Garcia called the start of deliveries a milestone. “We are in a race with nature. The sooner we bring climate-resilient sources online, the sooner we can help reduce stress on our aquifers and protect the natural resources that Cebu’s future depends on,” he said.

The companies said the added supply will help diversify Metro Cebu’s water sources and ease pressure on groundwater amid rising demand and climate-related risks.