Arteche: The local government unit of Arteche in Eastern Samar will build a water refilling station using the funds rewarded by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG). The town received the PHP1-million cash reward as one of the awardees of the 2023 Seal of Good Local Governance (SGLG).

According to Philippines News Agency, Mayor Roland Boie Evardone stated that the water refilling station is part of disaster resilience projects designed to ensure safe and potable water for the municipality, especially after natural calamities and disasters. Evardone emphasized the importance of having a reliable source of clean and safe water in addition to food packs during and after emergencies.

Arteche town, situated in the northeastern part of Eastern Samar province near the boundary with Northern Samar province, experiences flooding in villages located along riverbanks. This flood-prone condition affects the community’s potable and safe drinking water sources, which may become contaminated. The local government aims to address this issue to prevent the spread of water-borne illnesses and diseases.

Mayor Evardone mentioned that during non-disaster periods, the water refilling station will operate as a local enterprise, providing additional income to the municipality. Currently, the town has five privately owned water refilling stations, but they are insufficient to meet the drinking water needs of the town’s 4,320 households. This shortage forces residents to obtain water from the neighboring town of San Policarpo.

The SGLG, implemented under Republic Act 11292, is an institutionalized award incentive, honor, and recognition-based program. It aims to boost local government units’ commitment to continuous progress and improvement in various governance areas. Each awarded LGU receives the SGLG Incentive Fund, a grant designed to further empower local governance by supporting projects that enhance service delivery, infrastructure, and community well-being.