At least 200 families from an upland village in Sto. Domingo town, Albay province, now have free access to clean and safe water from a solar-powered water system provided by the the Ako Bicol (AKB) Party-List.
In an interview during the inauguration and turnover ceremony of the facility on Thursday, Barangay Lidong chairperson Lany Añonuevo said the project will address the water problem in their village.
“We are very glad for the project that was given to us. Before, our residents needed to travel more than 500 meters just to get water. This is not just an infrastructure that was built to help us but a way to make our lives more comfortable and easier,” Añonuevo said in Filipino.
She said that as their counterpart project, they will put up at least 12 communal faucets in various parts of the village.
“We will bring water closer to our residents. It is a great help in our daily lives, especially in the heat of the weather. It is easier to take a shower, use water in the kitchen, and always have the drink that everyone needs,” Añonuevo said.
Julie Ann Balager, a resident of Barangay Lidong and a mother of three, said the water system is a “big relief” and would greatly help in her daily chores.
Before the project, Balager said she had to fetch water from a well.
“I’m happy because it’s right in front of our house. I won’t get tired anymore, and I’m sure there’s a 24/7 clean, drinkable, and free supply of water. When you have children, water is needed all the time and now it’s not hard to get,” she said.
In an interview, AKB Rep. Raul Angelo Bongalon said the PHP10-million solar-powered water system is one of the priority projects of the party-list in areas that have no water connections or have water scarcity.
“We are very grateful that we can provide projects that are needed by our people. This is the 40th water system project of the AKB. For Albay 1st District, we already have 20 water systems. Our target is 400 sites in the Bicol Region with an allocated budget; some are still undergoing construction, or nearing completion, or continuous site validations,” he said.
Sto. Domingo Mayor Jun Aguas, in a separate interview, appealed to his constituents who are benefiting from the project to take care of the water facility and maintain it properly. (PNA)
