Subic Mayor Jonathan Khonghun and local officials conduct an on-site inspection of a water pumping facility in Subic following the declaration of a State of Water Emergency, as the municipal government intensifies efforts to restore stable and reliable water supply to affected communities.
Subic, Zambales — Mayor Jonathan Khonghun on Friday personally inspected restored pumping operations in key water facilities across the municipality as the local government formally declared a State of Water Emergency amid persistent supply disruptions affecting residents and businesses.
The declaration was made through an Executive Order issued on May 11, 2026, following mounting complaints over inadequate and unreliable water services in several barangays, including recurring outages, low water pressure, and delayed restoration efforts.
During the inspection, Mayor Khonghun visited pumping stations operated by PrimeWater and Village Water, where water pumps were found operational again—restoring supply to several affected communities after days of disruption.
Despite the temporary restoration, Khonghun issued a stern warning to both water providers, stressing that the municipal government is prepared to take over operations should another major service failure or prolonged water shortage occur.
“We cannot allow our people to suffer because of repeated water service failures. Access to clean and reliable water is a basic necessity and a right of every Subic resident,” the mayor said.
Under the Executive Order, all municipal offices and units with logistical capacity—including water tankers, fire trucks, utility vehicles, and heavy equipment—have been mobilized to support emergency water distribution in critically affected areas.
The order also directs the Sangguniang Bayan of Subic to immediately pursue legal, technical, and administrative measures related to a possible local government takeover of PrimeWater’s facilities and operations in the municipality.
Local officials said the ongoing water crisis has significantly impacted households, schools, health centers, businesses, and government services, prompting urgent intervention by the municipal government.
To address the crisis, the local government has also been authorized to coordinate with national agencies, including the Local Water Utilities Administration, Department of the Interior and Local Government, and National Water Resources Board.
Municipal authorities assured residents that emergency response efforts and continuous monitoring of water operations will remain in place until stable and dependable water service is fully restored throughout Subic.