Metro Dumaguete Water’s program to train local plumbers and teach proper handwashing have received international recognitions last Tuesday, Oct. 22 at the Asian Water Awards 2024 in Singapore.
The community programs, called Kaubang Tubero sa Barangay and the Hugas Luwas sa Dumaguete program, were hailed asCommunity-Based Water Project of the Year and Water Education and Awareness Initiative of the Year, respectively.
“Since we started of our operations in 2021, we recognized our duty to uplift lives in Dumaguete City by addressing water issues in the community. This latest recognition from the Asian Water Awards shows our commitment to the people of Dumaguete and our advocacy for sustainable access to safe water,” said Engr. Robert Cabiles, Chief Operating Officer.
Kaubang Tubero sa Barangay is a collaborative program between the Dumaguete City Water District (DCWD), the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), and the Liga ng mga Barangay. Through the combined efforts of MDW, DCWD, and TESDA, a basic plumbing module was developed. Barangay chairpersons nominated two residents to participate in the program.
As a result, 50 graduates completed the module and now work as community plumbers. They were also provided with basic plumbing toolkits to support their work. They now serve their respective areas, addressing leak repairs as needed.
The initiative has helped serve Dumaguete City which has around 20,000 residential connections. Additionally, it promotes water conservation by fixing leaks and reducing non-revenue water losses. Lastly, the plumbers now have a new source of income to support their families.
Meanwhile, the Hugas Luwas sa Dumaguete program is a community-centered initiative designed to promote the water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) advocacy. The program identified public spaces, schools, and other government offices where portable handwashing or group faucet facilities could be established.
The construction of these facilities was coupled with an information campaign targeting students, teachers, and the community. The program’s goals support the Department of Education (DepEd) in ensuring sanitation among students through the provision of group handwashing facilities and strengthening the WASH in Schools (WINS). Moreover, it encourages communities to replicate the handwashing tools and practices.
The initiative benefited 6 schools, impacting a total of 5,800 students through the installation of 58 faucets. Supplementary educational campaigns, events, and materials were provided to instill proper handwashing practices in students.
Furthermore, these programs continue to champion the mutual growth of the private and public sectors through the sharing of resources, best practices, and innovations. “Our community programs reflect MDW’s dedication to tackling local water challenges while empowering communities and enhancing public health,” Cabiles said.
