By Gladys P. Mangiduyos
Aug. 31, 2023 | CABANATUAN CITY, Philippines (UM News)
Vulnerable families in the Davao Area now have access to clean water thanks to a rainwater-harvesting project led by The United Methodist Church in the Philippines.
Without a sustainable water source, people living in Barangay Novele and other nearby neighborhoods suffered from sanitation- and health-related concerns.
The church rolled out its WASH project in vulnerable sectors in Barangay Novele, Rosario and Agusan del Sur with 33 households receiving a 210-liter plastic drum for collecting rainwater. Three 2,000-liter polyethylene drums also were given to three community centers.
The Rev. Dan Reuben L. Sison, Davao Area disaster management project assistant, said the majority of the recipients were senior citizens, including some with disabilities. The beneficiaries came from various faith affiliations.
Davao Area Bishop Israel M. Painit and volunteers with the Disaster Management Office of the North East District of the East Mindanao Philippines Conference were on hand for the distribution.
“The WASH project is a critical initiative aimed at addressing water-related crises in affected areas,” Painit said. “Through this program, we strive to improve access to clean water, enhance sanitation facilities and promote proper hygiene practices, especially in areas where the poverty rate is so high, like in the Davao Area.
