The city government has identified sitios and zones in all 27 barangays that are currently inaccessible to fire trucks and urgently need the installation of water hydrants to ensure quicker response to fire incidents.
Mayor Leni Robredo disclosed that the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) has expressed support for the proposed measure, but raised the issue of water availability. According to the BFP, several existing hydrants in the city do not release water — a gap that undermines firefighting efforts.
The mayor cited the recent fire incident on July 8, 2025 in Villa Robredo, Barangay Sabang, where the fire hydrant in the community failed to function. This, she said, underscored the urgency of resolving the issue on water supply and infrastructure.
In response, Mayor Robredo is convening a forum next Monday or Tuesday to be attended by the city’s 27 Punong Barangays and the management of the Metro Naga Water District (MNWD). The forum will focus on the status and updates of MNWD’s water development projects and aims to promote a transparent discussion about the water shortage that continues to affect the city.
“It is important for our community officials and residents to understand the cause of the water shortage and how long it is expected to last,” Robredo said, emphasizing that MNWD must clearly communicate with the appropriate agencies — whether national or local — to identify what assistance is needed.
The mayor stressed that the forum is being organized to foster “healthy exchanges of ideas and information” among stakeholders, in order to help resolve the issue of water shortage, especially as it relates to disaster preparedness.
She added that the city government is open to providing support and may also lobby the national government for funding assistance based on the outcome of the discussions.
“The forum will guide us in determining what kind of support we can extend to address the water supply concern — and how we can coordinate with the national government to tap additional resources,” Robredo said. | via Jason B. Neola
