by Lorie Ann A. Cascaro
Because potable water can hardly reach their households, the villagers of Marilog district have to make do with spring water in their area for their daily needs. It is when government funds are not available for tribal communities, that civic organizations like the Rotary Club of Downtown Davao (RCDD) play their role.
The RCDD, with the Alliance for Mindanao Off-Grid Renewable Energy (AMORE) of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) as its partner, applied for funding under the Health, Hunger and Humanity or 3-H Grant of the Rotary Foundation (TRF). This is for a potable water and hygiene education project for barangays Bantol and Magsaysay in the district.
The total amount is US$111,100 with US$96,000 awarded as grant and US$15,100 representing the club co-sponsor’s counterpart through the Rotary Club of Hermiston, USA. There are five water systems to be constructed with a total of 35 tap stands/wash tubs.
Five water systems were constructed, one each in Upper Muslim, Mawato, Malakiba and Bangkal of Barangay Bantol; and in Barangay Magsaysay. These five areas were approved by the USAID based on their Environmental Screening Reports.
Lowell Sareno, coordinator of water, sanitation and hygiene of the AMORE, said that already completed are those in Upper Muslim which will supply water to 80 up to 100 households, Mawato and Bangkal for 60 to 80 households each. Magsaysay will soon be completed to supply some 300 households, he added, while Malakiba is still under construction.
Not a typical sponsored project, this involved the community in the entire process. “A highly participatory process involving the active involvement of the communities was used in the process of implementation,” as stated in the project update by Cristy Gallano, president of RCDD.
In May and June, RCDD-AMORE conducted trainings for the residents on basic organization development like group building, effective committee work, leadership skills, decision making, and conflict management. There were also sessions on water cycle and water uses, the water system and its limitations, material standards and specification, and tips on basic water system construction.
The education and trainings were aimed at providing local project leaders in the areas. Thus, as reported, each barangay was able to formulate a water system implementation plan where they were actively involved in the process. The training methodologies used included lectures, film showing, workshops, small group discussions, role playing and other forms of Structured Learning Exercises.
As to the quality of the water source, samples were taken and tested for nitrite, nitrate, arsenic and bacteria. The report says all sources are free from contaminants and safe for human consumption as shown by the test results.
Being an alternative potable water supply, will access to these water systems be for free?
Sareno said the communities are still obliged to raise funds for the operation and maintenance, which so far has been pegged at P10 to P25 monthly per household. He added that most households find P10 as too much, while a few have refused to pay. The amount depends on each community’s unanimous decision.
Gallano said this project exemplifies the Rotary International’s mission to provide service to others, promote integrity and advance world understanding, goodwill and peace through fellowship of business, professional and community leaders.
“At this early, I commend our two barangay captains for their leadership in mobilizing the community to assist in this huge task of bringing potable water from the forest to the people,” she added.
The 3H Grant Number 71461, Community Water Supply in Davao Philippines, also known as the Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Project is jointly implemented locally by the RCDD and the AMORE, with the international partner Hermiston Rotary Club of Oregon, USA. This will be completed in a three-year period targeting at least 4,000 household beneficiaries.
