DURING the onslaught of the southwest monsoon (habagat) rains, Manila Water Foundation (MWF), through its “Agapay Para Sa Barangay” (APSB) program, deployed 43,000 gallons of water to different provinces in North and Central Luzon to aid in providing safe drinking water to more than 8,600 affected families.
Beneficiaries of the water bottles are residents of areas heavily hit by the monsoon rains in Bataan, Pampanga, Bulacan and Pangasinan. Among them is Ben Paule, who lives in an Ayta community in Barangay Tubo-Tubo, Dinalupihan, Bataan. He said he feared for his three grandchildren who were left under his care when their mother passed away due to a blood infection.
“Since the rain started pouring in our barangay, we cannot move around or go outside. We fear that a landslide might happen anytime, thus, we just stayed inside our houses for safety and often went to the barangay hall to hear news about the current situation. The residents of Barangay Tubo-Tubo are very thankful because we were given clean drinking water by Manila Water Foundation. This is a big help for us, especially that the quality of water we drink is often questionable,” Paule said.
Other beneficiaries from nearby municipalities also expressed their gratitude for the help that they have received from MWF. Merlita Arga, an evacuee in Dagupan City, Pangasinan, shared her experience and how having safe drinking water will help her family get through their days in the evacuation center. “We’ve been in the evacuation center for five days now. The flood already reached our houses in Sitio Fisheries. We also have no water to drink. Thank you very much for your help. Now, we have safe water to drink,” she said.
Aside from residents who directly benefited from the donation, local leaders of different municipalities also expressed their appreciation on behalf of their constituents. Dinalupihan, Bataan Mayor Gila Garcia said they are very grateful for the good gesture that MWF has extended. She also reiterated the importance of having a clean water source in her jurisdiction, especially since a large portion of their population still doesn’t have direct access to piped water.
“You were here right away. You called even before we asked. We really need to address the issue on safe and potable water for all our households. So we are hoping that somehow, considering all the situations that are already given, that we will have an opportunity to work together with Manila Water Foundation and Manila Water Co.,” she said.
Pulilan, Bulacan Mayor Maritz Ochoa-Montejo lauded the APSB program and encouraged MWF to continue its mission of providing safe and potable water to disaster-affected communities.
“Many residents here in Pulilan were affected by the floods brought about by the rains. Your initiative to bring safe and potable water to communities like ours is very helpful. I wish that you would continue with such projects,” she said.
Aside from the water bottles, 100 solar bags were also given to serve as portable water treatment apparatuses in Calasiao, Pangasinan. Part of the funding for the distributed items was taken from a special block screening organized by MWF back in June.