Zamboanga city: For years, access to safe drinking water was a daily struggle for residents of Barangay Tumalutab, a small and remote island in Zamboanga City. Families mostly relied on deep wells, often unsafe and causing illness, especially among children, or had to shell out PHP60 to PHP70 per 5-gallon container from the mainland, including transportation costs.
According to Philippines News Agency, during his visit to the island to check on the newly installed water filtration system, Environment Secretary Juan Miguel Cuna personally talked with the residents, who expressed gratitude to the government for finally bringing potable water right within the island. 'Masaya ang mga tao dito sa komunidad pero pagdating sa pangangailangan nila sa tubig, dati sabi nung mga nakausap natin kumukuha lang sila sa deep well na alam naman natin na hindi ligtas, ang iba sa kanila sumasakit ang tiyan,' he said. 'Pag may pagkakataon, kumukuha sila sa mainland, pero yung gastusin nila pareho, yung pamasahe nila papunta doon at yung pagbili doon ng tubig medyo mataas,' he added.
With the water filtration project completed in December 2025, residents narrated its life-changing effect, especially since they never expected the government to bring clean water to their island, which is a two-hour boat ride from the mainland. Nurhima Atim, a mother of three, said the project has eased the daily burden on families. 'Before wala pang mineral, sa deep well talaga, at pag me pera bumibili kami dun sa galing mainland,' Atim said. 'Mas okay na ngayon kasi dito mabilis, PHP30 lang, di tulad ng galing sa mainland, merong PHP50 hanggang PHP70, depende sa pamasahe sa boat, mas magaan kasi nakakatipid kami at may pandagdag gastos sa iba pang mga pangangailangan namin sa pang-araw-araw,' she added.
Cuna said the Tumalutab water filtration project is part of the DENR's Water Resources Management Office (WRMO) program. The WRMO, established in 2023 through Executive Order 22 signed by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., aims to address water security, including the lack of adequate infrastructure leading to uneven distribution of water resources, among others. From 2024 to 2026, WRMO is implementing a nationwide water supply program with a PHP485 million budget, targeting 440,904 beneficiaries.
