WHAT ARE WE WITHOUT WATER? A student of Sirawan Elementary School quenches his thirst as he fills up a gallon of water from the only water source inside the school grounds.
A single faucet at the edge of the Sirawan Elementary School provides water to around 700 grade school students and 30 teachers. The students, some of whom are Marawi evacuees, line up every day to fetch water from the tap, sometimes even under the scorching heat.
Those 700 students will now have easier access to water after the public school recently received a water tank donation during a turnover ceremony with AboitizPower subsidiary Therma South, Inc. (TSI) last 2 November 2017.
“Water is a number one priority. What are we without water? We only have one source at the entrance of our school. The water can’t reach the classrooms because the flow isn’t strong enough,” said Nestor Cadavas, Principal of Sirawan Elementary School.
Inaccessibility to water has been inconvenient for both the students and the faculty, especially since the school hosts several big activities annually such as scouting jamborees.
“This water tank will be able to supply water to at least 10 classrooms. We cannot express our gratitude enough for TSI’s support for our young students – for our children,” said Richard Libre, President of the school’s Parent-Teacher Association.
“In behalf of the Barangay, we want to thank TSI for their generosity. Whether it be for our students, our fishermen, or our women, you’ve always supported us.,” said Kagawad Asmani Palilim, who also chairs the Barangay Council’s Committee on Education.
“This donation is aligned with AboitizPower’s initiative to create safe, empowered, and sustainable communities. Education has always been one of our main thrusts in hopes that we can give young, and often times impoverished, students a better future,” said Jason Magnaye, TSI Manager for Reputation and Stakeholder Management.
Barangay Sirawan, situated in Toril, Davao City, is one of the impact communities of the 300-megawatt Davao Baseload Power Plant operated by TSI.
