Some 2,873 households in ninewaterless villages here in the province now have ready access to clean and safe drinking water as newly completedPotable Water Systemswere recently turned over to them by the government.
Implemented by the Provincial Government, these newly completed level-two water systems were funded under various programs of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) which arePayapa at MasagangPamayanan (Pamana), Sagana at LigtasnaTubig (Salintubig), and Bottom-up Budgeting (BUB).
Marilou Gumabao, a resident of Barangay Poblacion, Caraga, said she is pleased of the newly installed water system in their areaas they will no longer have to bear the burden of fetching water several kilometers away from the barangay.
Aside from easy access, improvement in terms of health is touted to be one of the benefits of the project as the water coming from these water systems is guaranteed safe for drinking, helping consumers avoid water-borne diseaseswhich is a problem especially for the poor and low-income families. Residents say the project can also help them save money since they don’t need to buy water from refilling stations and they can save a lot of time by getting water nearby.
Access to water supply remains one of the challenges of many communities especially those in remote areas. Among the areas provided with new source of water are the villages of Maganda and Tubaon in Tarragona town; Poblacion, PM Sobrecarey, and San Luis in Caraga town; and Batawan, Binondo, San Isidro, and Campawan in Baganga town.
With a total budget allocation of P22.8 million, the project implementation was started during the previous administration under former governor now first district representative Cong. Corazon N. Malanyaon and was continued by the present leadership of Gov. Nelson L. Dayanghirang.
Cong. Malanyaon said access to potable water has been a priority project of the government as it recognizes water supply as one of the important means to improve life of the people especially in disadvantaged areas. “Water has a direct impact in the lives of the people,” she said.
Governor Dayanghiranghopes that the new water systems will help accelerate economic growth inpoor communities as it will provide new opportunities for them.
DILG Provincial Director Yvette T. Sunga encouraged the recipient barangays to create their own water service association to take charge of the maintenance of the water service.
“This project is a testament of the government’s commitment of providing communities their utmost need which is water,” she said. In turn, she challenged the residents as consumers to take their responsibility in water conservation. (Karen Lou Deloso)
