Clean water for remote Mindanao barangay

Despite the abundance of water in Barangay Chua, a remote mountainous barangay 13 kms. from the town proper of Bagumbayan in Sultan Kudarat, water remains a problem to many residents. In fact, it has become a scourge to many children and women who are tasked to attend daily to the water needs of their families.

Waterborne diseases being among the leading causes of child mortality in the community, the residents have identified potable water, side by side with electricity, as its most critical needs.  

Fortunately for Barangay Chua, their water problems will soon be over. Through the efforts of the AMORE, 100 households in six water-scarce sitios in remote Barangay Chua in Bagumbayan, Sultan Kudarat are the first in Asia to enjoy safe drinking water under the Clean Water for People Initiative of the United States and Japan . The village is a recipient of a PhP1.14 million grant from the Japanese government, through its Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects under its Official Development Assistance program. To date, there are 18 communal distribution points or faucets where the residents can fetch tap water. The consumers, in return, will pay a monthly fee of PhP10 per household, which will be used to operate and maintain the water system  

Barangay Chua is an upland community of former Moro National Liberation Front combatants that AMORE, with USAID funding, has energized with an 8-kW microhydro power (mHP) system for household and communal lighting as well as for productive livelihood and social services applications.