Tinglayan: About 147 families from a remote village in Tinglayan in the province of Kalinga now have access to clean water and sanitation after the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) turned over to the community a Level 2 Water Works Project.
According to Philippines News Agency, the DENR Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) announced in a news release that the PHP2-million project, implemented through the Water Resources Management Office (WRMO), will benefit the upland community inhabited by members of the Butbut Tribe, one of Kalinga's indigenous ethnolinguistic groups.
Environment Secretary Juan Miguel Cuna emphasized that the initiative reflects DENR's commitment to strengthening underserved communities through sustainable water access. He stated that their objective is to evolve into becoming architects of systems that bridge the gap between resource management and community resilience. The goal is to establish a foundation where water security is not a daily struggle for upland communities but a catalyst for their health and progress.
The DENR highlighted that for years, residents endured long walks to distant water sources for drinking, cooking, and sanitation, making water collection a daily hardship that impacted health, education, and livelihoods. The newly completed water system includes a 31.394-cubic-meter intake tank, filtration tank, main tank, pipelines, and fittings designed to bring water closer to homes and community facilities.
One of the first beneficiaries of the project was Butbut Community Integrated School, where limited water supply previously hampered daily operations. School head Joy Bagni noted that the new system has improved sanitation and daily school operations, providing a more stable and accessible water supply that supports sanitation and learning activities.
Village head Pedro Bugawit remarked that the project has reduced the burden on residents who previously spent significant time fetching water, allowing them more time for education, livelihood, and community activities. He expressed that water is now closer, bringing relief, dignity, and hope for sustainable living.
Angelica Jacela of the WRMO emphasized the necessity for community cooperation in maintaining and sustaining the water system and protecting the water source. President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., who signed Executive Order No. 22 creating the WRMO under the DENR, underscored the importance of access to clean, reliable water sources to sustain life and enable economic activities, stating that when water systems work, progress flows.
