A community-run water system funded through a P600,000 livelihood grant is now supplying clean water to 24 households in Barangay Lumbangan, Zamboanga City, prompting the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to consider replicating the model in other remote communities.
DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian visited the Solo Parents de Lumbangan Sustainable Livelihood Program Association on Monday, June 29, to inspect the project established under the agency’s Sustainable Livelihood Program.
The association, composed of 30 members, received the Seed Capital Fund in May 2025 to build and operate a small water supply system using the barangay’s natural spring.
Gatchalian said the project shows how livelihood assistance can also solve basic service gaps in geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas.
“Sinilip natin ‘yung isang napakatagumpay na sustainable livelihood project ng DSWD. Alinsunod sa utos ng ating Pangulo, ang gusto ng ating Pangulo ‘yung development ay dinadala natin sa pinakamalalayong lugar sa ating bansa,” Gatchalian told reporters.
Through the grant, the group installed a water impounding, treatment, and distribution system that now brings clean running water directly to homes.
Residents pay a one-time installation fee of P2,000 and a monthly fee of P160 to P180, depending on their water consumption.
Gatchalian said Barangay Lumbangan had long had a natural water source but lacked the infrastructure to deliver water to households.
“Itong barangay na ito, for the longest time, wala siyang supply ng tubig sa kanilang mga tahanan. So ang ginawa nila, nag-apply sila ng grant at nabigyan sila ng P600,000 last year. Ang ginawa nila ngayon, nagtayo sila ng maliit na water distribution na negosyo,” he said.
He said the project turned an available water source into a sustainable community enterprise that benefits both residents and the livelihood association.
“Ngayon, na-solusyunan na nila ’yung problema sa tubig, kasi mayroon namang source ’yung natural spring sa taas, pero ang ginawa nila, mayroong water impounding, mayroong water treatment, and then mayroong water distribution. Maliit na proyekto pero very meaningful kasi araw-araw pinapakinabangan ng mga mamamayan,” Gatchalian said.
The DSWD chief said the model may be copied in other communities with natural water sources but no distribution system.
“Puwede natin ’tong kopyahin sa iba pang mga lugar na ganito ang mga problema. Water, may natural source pero walang system, at kailangan ng livelihood income ng mga tao,” he said.
Gatchalian was joined during the visit by DSWD spokesperson Assistant Secretary Irene Dumlao, DSWD Field Office 9 Regional Director Riduan Hadjimuddin, and Zamboanga City 2nd District Rep. Jerry Perez.
The Sustainable Livelihood Program provides livelihood assistance and capacity-building support to poor, vulnerable, and marginalized communities.