AROUND 255 households in an urban poor community in barangay Tipolo, Mandaue City don’t have to walk a few distance anymore or line up to get water now that they already have water connections.
Since 2001, the Lower Tipolo Homeowners Association Inc. (LTHAI) has been getting water from a deep well for their washing needs and from the MCWD faucet for their drinking needs. The activity has been going on because majority of the LTHAI members could not afford to pay around P30,000 for water connection.
LTHAI president Dometilla Subang coordinated with the Presidential Commission on the Urban Poor (PCUP), through Climen Quiros in 2009 to obtain water connection.
With the help of Tubig Pag-Asa Inc. (TPA) and Water and Life Philippines, the LTHAI negotiated with the Metropolitan Cebu Water District which led to the creation of the water system for LTHAI.
Celine Santillan of TPA tapped MCWD to supply water to the interior areas they do not serve.
TPA, which is also engaged in a water project in Manila, made LTHAI its pilot project in Cebu.
TPA funded the costs of the piping from MCWD’s main line pipe to the households and collects a membership fee of P4,900 to be paid in 64 weeks on an installment basis.
Astrophil Logarta of MCWD was happy with TPA for helping them bring the water to the interior portion from their main pipes. “We also need funds for our expansion projects. Unfortunately, the LTHAI area was one of the areas we have not served yet,” Logarta said.
LTHAI president Fometila Subang thanked TPA and PCUP and said “Makaligo na gyud mi gamit ang among mga gripo sa balay (We can now take a bath using the faucets in our homes).” /CORRESPONDENT NORMAN V. MENDOZA