North Cotabato Governor Nancy Catamco (Photo courtesy of DXND Kidapawan)
COTABATO CITY – North Cotabato Governor Nancy Catamco met Friday with officials of the Metro Kidapawan Water District (MKWD) to discuss matters concerning potable water connections for indigenous peoples' (IP) communities in Kidapawan City and the rest of the province.
“Everyone should have access to sufficient, potable, and safe water supply,” the governor said in a statement Friday following her meeting with MKWD at the provincial capitol.
Catamco is looking to implement the expansion programs in communities, especially IP areas where they often rely on deep wells and springs for drinking purposes.
North Cotabato provincial records show a sizeable Manobo IP community in Carmen town and another Teduray settlement in Pigcawayan.
Catamco, herself of Manobo descent, has requested MKWD general manager Stella Gonzales to provide her an inventory of areas without existing water facilities so that the provincial government could immediately evaluate as to what intervention is needed and include the same in its annual investment plan.
“It is a must that every household in North Cotabato has safe water to drink,” Catamco said.
She urged MKWD officials to conduct a massive campaign for conservation of water, protection of water sources, as well as educate the public about the danger of the use of deep wells to the environment, especially if not properly regulated. (PNA)
