TACLOBAN CITY — Residents of a remote village on Homonhon Island in Guiuan, Eastern Samar can now access safe and reliable water following the completion of a long-awaited community water supply project.
The new system, inaugurated in Barangay Casuguran, addresses years of water scarcity where families relied on shallow wells or bought water transported from the mainland.
Mayor Annaliza Gonzales-Kwan said the project marks a significant step in improving living conditions, particularly for the barangay’s roughly 300 residents.
“This is not just about infrastructure—it is about dignity and better quality of life for our people,” she said, noting that access to clean water is essential to health and daily needs.
The facility is a Level II water system that distributes potable water through communal tap stands. It includes a 60,000-liter dam, an ultra-filtration unit capable of processing 10 cubic meters per hour, a 10,000-liter storage tank, and a 5-kilometer pipeline network connecting multiple access points across the village.
Barangay Casuguran is the first site under the larger Homonhon Island Water Supply System Project, which is set to expand to seven more barangays.
The project was implemented through a partnership involving the Department of Environment and Natural Resources’ Water Resources Management Office, the Guiuan Water District, and several mining firms operating on the island under their social development programs.
Officials said the initiative is expected to improve sanitation, reduce health risks, and ease the burden on residents who previously spent time and money securing water.
(ROEL T. AMAZONA)
