A SOLAR-POWERED water project with a UV filtration system was formally turned over to Barangay Pangpang, Ubay in Bohol on June 25, 2025, bringing new hope to at least 70 households long plagued by the lack of safe and affordable drinking water.
The project, initiated by Sibol ng Agham at Teknolohiya (Sibat) and funded by Misereor, an Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in Manila, was warmly received by community members, barangay officials, and provincial leaders during the ceremony.
The Provincial Government of Bohol, which approved the project, hailed the initiative as a sustainable solution to rural water scarcity, especially in communities vulnerable to natural disasters and limited access to public utilities.
According to utility station chairman Rojelio Luminarias, residents have endured over a decade of difficulty accessing potable water.
“For years, we had to travel to the neighboring municipality just to buy gallons of drinking water, which is very expensive for us. Even water deliveries here cost around P25 per gallon due to the high markup,” Luminarias said in Cebuano.
Now, with the community-based solar-powered station in place, residents can purchase clean drinking water at only P10 per gallon dramatically reducing costs and offering much-needed convenience, he added.
Aside from affordability, the station promises to ease the financial burden for many low-income families in the coastal barangay, where most residents rely on rice farming and small-scale fishing for their livelihood.
Luminarias said the community initially requested the project from Sibat Inc., a non-government organization advocating for sustainable, community-based solutions.
The proposal was submitted in 2012 and later funded by Misereor.
Sibat, which has been active in Pangpang since 2007, also oversaw the implementation.
Luminarias said they expect the water station to be fully operational by next month, once they secure the necessary permits. The only remaining requirements are the sanitation permit and BIR clearance.
Bohol Governor Erico Aristotle “Aris” Aumentado expressed his gratitude to all those who supported the project.
According to him, this is a significant help to the residents of Barangay Pangpang and serves as an example of a sustainable solution to the water problems faced by rural communities. (CAV)