(File photo)
MANILA – The subsidiary Boracay Water recently spearheaded and completed a project under the "Tubig Para sa Barangay” (TPSB) program, which aims to provide sustainable water to low-income households in Boracay Island in Malay, Aklan province.
The TPSB program is a flagship program of Manila Water Company (Manila Water), which also aims to solve issues on illegal water connections, system losses, and pipe breakages that may result to water contamination and spread of gastrointestinal diseases, according to a press release issued on Tuesday.
Boracay Water is a subsidiary of Manila Water Philippine Ventures and a concessionaire of Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority.
“I thank Boracay Water for the TPSB project. Water access has been difficult for the residents of the remote parts of our barangay(s) due to land disputes. Some of them have to extend their water lines from their location to the water network in the main road, which is costly. With Boracay Water extending their water lines to these areas, access to quality water supply is now easier and can be enjoyed 24/7,” said Hector Casidsid, Chairperson of Barangay Yapak in Boracay Island, in a statement.
“Boracay Water has been very accommodating of my requests and proposals for the benefit of the community. They are one of our very supportive partners for the development of our barangay,” Casidsid added.
The TPSB project in Sitio Balinghai, Barangay Yapak in Boracay Island, was launched by Boracay Water together with the Barangay Yapak Council and residents of Sitio Balinghai.
Sitio Balinghai is one of the areas of Barangay Yapak that had issues with water access due to right of way disputes.
However, when the Malay Municipal Planning and Development Council and Barangay Yapak led a project of building new road access in Sitio Balinghai in 2022, Boracay Water also took the opportunity to implement the TPSB project, laying a 63-millimeter with 700 meters of water lines to give access to 24/7 safe, clean, and potable water to 120 households in Sitio Balinghai.
The project costing PHP1.4 million started in December 2022.
Residents of Sitio Balinghai expressed its gratitude to Boracay Water, with Casidsid saying they are delighted and will surely enjoy having access to clean and potable water supply 24/7.
In 2013, Boracay Water also led a TPSB project in Sitio Lapus in Barangay Yapak, providing water access for 20 households, and in Sitio Pinaungon, Barangay Balabag in 2014 where 90 households benefited from it.
More TPSB projects were done in Boracay Island with the help of the Manila Water Foundation through World Bank’s Global Partnership on Output-Based Aid. (PNA)
