The Department of Interior and Local Government revealed that about 332 municipalities and 7,263 barangays in the Philippines are considered “waterless.” This means that less than 50% of the population in these areas has no access to water.          

Many of these waterless communities are found in Leyte, as shown by a 2015 community profiling conducted by Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP).  

This includes Barangay Capiñahan in the Municipality of San Isidro where the main sources of water are dug wells which tested positive for E-coli. This contamination can be attributed to the water sources’ proximity to drainage canals and to the practice of open defecation since 70% of households in the municipality have no toilets.

Worse, there is only a single source of potable drinking in the barangay and to access this, most residents have to travel four kilometers. Hence, many have no choice but to drink water from the contaminated wells.

The situation in various parts of the country may eventually become more severe given the population growth and the threats posed by climate change to the country, if no actions are taken.

CREATING SUSTAINABLE SOLUTIONS  

To help address these problems on water security, PBSP will gather representatives from the business sector, government, and the academe for the first Water Alliance General Assembly on April 24, 2017 at Dusit Thani Hotel in Makati City.

Dubbed “Championing Solutions to Water Security Challenges,” the milestone event will be led by Francis Giles Puno, president and CEO of First Philippines Holdings Corporation, Water Alliance Chairman, and member of the PBSP Board of Trustees. He will be joined by PBSP President Br Armin Luistro FSC and PBSP Executive Director Reynaldo Antonio Laguda.

During the assembly, Alliance members will be updated on the challenges being faced today in various parts of the country. They will also engage in thematic group discussions and planning to address water security issues.

Initiated by PBSP in partnership with the Be Secure Project of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the Water Alliance was established in 2015, bringing together CEOs of top corporations to help solve problems on water security.

RESPONDING TO THE CHALLENGE

The Water Alliance believes that the business sector has a critical stake in addressing these crises since they are heavy users of water, specifically in the agriculture, manufacturing, and energy sectors.

Francis Giles Puno will lead the alliance through a roadmap that will support the government towards its goal to universal access to water by 2025. To do this, he urges companies to join the Alliance and be part in creating sustainable solutions that will address this serious concern which affects not only the environment but more importantly, human health and food security.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]