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To expand access to safe drinking water
TACLOBAN CITY – The provincial government of Samar has stepped up efforts to address long-standing water access challenges by launching preparations for a province-wide water system project designed to deliver safe and reliable drinking water to underserved communities.
The initiative, led by Governor Sharee Ann Tan, marks a major infrastructure push aimed at modernizing the province’s water supply systems, particularly in areas that continue to depend on springs, shallow wells, rainwater, and small communal facilities that are often unreliable during dry spells or vulnerable to contamination during heavy rains.
Governor Tan met on May 4 with local chief executives and representatives of Balibago Waterworks System, Inc. to discuss the rollout of the project, which will be implemented through a public-private partnership arrangement.
The first phase will focus on municipalities in Samar’s first district, including Calbayog City and the towns of Santa Margarita, Gandara, San Jorge, Matuguinao, Tagapul-an, Santo Niño, Almagro, and Tarangnan—areas where many households still rely on informal or decentralized water sources.
For decades, residents in these communities have depended on natural springs, deep wells, rivers, and barangay-managed systems that often fall short of providing consistent potable water, especially during seasonal droughts or flooding events. These conditions have raised persistent concerns over water safety, sanitation, and public health.
Under the proposed project, the provincial government and its private sector partner aim to establish a centralized and more sustainable water distribution network that can deliver treated potable water directly to households in priority areas.
Officials said the system is expected to reduce reliance on aging infrastructure and informal sources that have become increasingly inadequate for growing populations.
The project is also part of Samar’s broader infrastructure modernization agenda, with succeeding phases expected to expand coverage to the province’s second district in the coming years.
Provincial leaders said improved water access is expected to bring long-term benefits, including better public health outcomes, reduced incidence of waterborne diseases, and stronger support for local economic activity, particularly in communities where water scarcity has affected daily life, schools, and small businesses.
JOEY A. GABIETA
