For decades, around 3,000 households in the municipality of Medina in Misamis Oriental have had to share around 60 communal faucets for their water needs.
People across seven barangays would endure long queues and irregular schedules of limited water supply. This led to rows and altercations among families within the community, especially during the dry season.
“Kapag walang tubig, isa iyan sa (dahilan) para magkagulo iyong mga pamilya. Tubig talaga ang kailangan [The lack of water is one of the causes of conflict among the families. Water is really a great need],” Medina Vice Mayor Kim Michael Odchigue said.
To help alleviate the situation of the communities, the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process, through 2017 PAMANA (PAyapa at MAsaganang PamayaNAn) Program, shelled out P25 million to provide a potable water system in the municipality.
The project will install direct water connection to 3,000 households. Half of the project has already been completed and is scheduled to be fully operational by this coming October.
“It will alleviate poverty and promote sanitation sa mga tao. Kung may sapat na tubig na pumasok sa kabahayan [If enough water reaches the households] for drinking and for household consumption—isa iyon sa mga (factors) to improve sanitation and quality of life,” Odchigue said.
The project will also help sustain livelihood programs within the community.
PAMANA has been implemented by the government since 2012 to reduce vulnerabilities and empower fragile communities.
Playing a vital role as a complementary track to peace negotiations, the program involves socio-economic interventions to isolated and conflict-affected areas not just to foster sustainable development but also to avoid the recurrence of sources of conflict.
All in all, nearly P80 million has been allocated for the province of Misamis Oriental under the 2017 PAMANA Program. This funded socio-economic and infrastructure projects in Gingoog City and in the municipalities of Magsaysay, Medina, Salay, Kinoquitan, and Sugbongcogon.