Clean water flows in a rural community
One Meralco Foundation empowers South Cotabato community with energized water facility
One Meralco Foundation, the corporate social development arm of the Manny V. Pangilinan-led Manila Electric Company (Meralco) brought solar technology to an underserved community’s water system, an essential tool in improving their health, socioeconomic outcomes, and water security.
UNINTERRUPTED WATER ACCESS. Residents in Barangay Guinsang-an, Sto. Nino, South Cotabato no longer worry about water interruptions now that their barangay water system is energized by OMF using a solar PV system.
The Barangay Guinsang-an community, comprising of many farmers, struggled with access to clean and reliable water for years and had to source their water through deep wells. To address this, their barangay officials institutionalized its own Barangay Water System Association (BAWASA) so residents can have easier access to water through tap. But because it needs electricity to run, the barangay—with the cooperation of paying households—has to shoulder the electric bill.
Since many of the households in the barangay are low-income, there are times when they cannot afford to pay their share. This forces the barangay officials to dip into their funds originally allocated for social services to keep the water flowing.
Despite the presence of a water system in their community, blackouts sometimes occur. Since BAWASA relied solely on electricity from the grid to run, the water supply was also cut off during power outages.
"'Pag brownout, actually wala gid kami sang tubig nga kuhaan. Tanan diri walang ligo, wala sang pang-ano sa sapat (We don't have water during power outages. This meant residents can't take a bath, there was no water for the animals)," shared Barangay Kagawad Cris Valencia, who is also the BAWASA administrator.
To help address these challenges, OMF energized the barangay’s water system using solar photovoltaic (PV) technology through its Water Access Electrification Program.
CLEAN WATER FOR THE COMMUNITY. Residents now have reliable water access, enabling them to start or expand home-based businesses.
Now that it is energized, residents are glad that they can still bathe, wash clothes, or collect water for their plants and farm animals even during power outages. This also opens opportunities for some households to start businesses which require reliable water flow, such as a carinderia (food stall). Having a renewable source of energy is also seen to reduce the amount residents need to pay for water expenses so they can save more. Moreover, the barangay is hopeful that it can finally use the funds for social services to improve the lives of those in the community, including expanding water pipelines to other nearby puroks so more residents have access to safe and reliable water.
"Ang among matigom pang-maintenance sa kwarta, tinghuwaon na maka-project kami. Tinghuwaon namon nya makaabot kami, makafund kami makapaabot pa gid ang tubig namin sa ibang purok na ‘di maabot subong na tubig (Our savings in maintaining the water system can be allotted for other projects. We will strive to extend our facilities to more purok without access to water)," a hopeful Valencia said.
PARTNERING FOR IMPROVED WATER ACCESS SERVICES. The Water Access Electrification project is made possible by the partnership made by Meralco led by its Chief Operating Officer Engr. Ronnie Aperocho (fourth from left), One Meralco Foundation led by its President Jeffrey O. Tarayao (third from left), the municipal government of Sto. Nino led by Mayor Sulpicio Villalobos (second from left), Barangay Guinsang-an led by Captain Efren Penaflorida (third from right), and South Cotabato Electric Cooperative (SOCOTECO) as represented by Power Metering Supervisor Engineer Jeffrey Velasco.
The Foundation recently held a community turnover program with Meralco Chief Operating Officer and OMF Trustee Engr. Ronnie L. Aperocho, who traces his roots to Sto. Niño, South Cotabato, with OMF President Jeffrey O. Tarayao leading the activity. They were also joined by Sto. Niño Mayor Sulpicio Villalobos, Barangay Guinsang-an officials led by Barangay Chairman Efren Peñaflorida, and representatives of the local electric cooperative, South Cotabato Electric Cooperative (SOCOTECO).
Engr. Aperocho, shared, “Meralco extends its social responsibility to our fellow Filipinos through electrification programs that we implement, even in the farthest, most remote communities across the Philippines. Being able to bring the benefits of solar power technology to various communities will help enable the good life Filipinos deserve.”
Water Access Electrification, one of the Foundation’s electrification programs, is focused on improving the distribution of water to households or through communal water stations through solar technology. Since 2022, it benefited more than 800 households in different communities in Quezon, Bulacan, and South Cotabato.
“By providing a sustainable solution to the community’s water system, we ensure that the residents today—as well as the future generation—can have access to clean and safe water for years to come,” said OMF President Jeffrey O. Tarayao.