A Community Transformed
As Davao City pulses with color and culture in celebration of the 40th Kadayawan Festival, the city is not only honoring its rich heritage—it is also embracing the quiet shift transforming everyday life. One such change flows beneath the surface, quite literally: the Davao City Bulk Water Supply Project (DCBWSP). Now fully operational, it is reshaping communities and securing the city’s future with clean, sustainable water.
The 2024 Census of Population underscores the importance of such investments. Davao Region is now home to 5,389,422 people, with Davao City alone at 1.85 million residents—the most populated city in Southern Mindanao. The steady addition of 145,886 people since 2020 means more households, more businesses, and greater demand for reliable water supply.
Launched through a pioneering partnership between Apo Agua Infrastructura, Inc. and the Davao City Water District, the DCBWSP is the largest private bulk water supply facility in the country. Drawing surface water from the Tamugan River, the project now delivers up to 300 million liters per day (MLD)—enough to improve water access for over one million Dabawenyos, including those in the city’s fastest-growing communities.
For residents like Engr. Jose D. Cadjatan, president of the Emily Homes Homeowners Association in Cabantian, reliable water is a cornerstone of a livable community:
“Number one requirement gyud kung mupuyo ka sa isa ka lugar ang kalsada going downtown, electricity, ug tubig. Kanang tulo pirmi. Kung kulang ang isa, lisod gyud. Karon, naa na tanan, so kontento na ang mga tao. Sauna daghan reklamo sa tubig, pero karon, wala na gyud kaayo.”
(“The number one requirements when you live in a place are access roads to downtown, electricity, and water. Those three always go together. If one is missing, life is difficult. Now we have all three, so people are satisfied. Before, there were many complaints about water, but now, none at all.”)
Cabantian, Tigatto, Indangan, and Sasa—rapidly expanding residential hubs—are now receiving consistent supply, ensuring that new households and businesses can thrive without the threat of water interruptions. Microentrepreneurs like Alfonso Sakay, owner of Ali Laundry Shop in Cabantian, have seen the difference first-hand:
“Ang mga customers sa laundry shop, hindi naman sila dependent sa water, dependent sila sa quality ng services. Dati, affected ang services namin. Sa halip na ma-deliver ang laundry mo the same day, baka the next day pa due to water interruptions. Ngayon, kasi wala nang interruptions and the quality is better, kaya nakatulong naman.”
(“Customers at the laundry shop aren’t focused on water itself, they care about the quality of service. Before, interruptions delayed delivery by a day. Now, with no interruptions, the quality has improved and it’s been a big help.”)
Sustainability Rooted in Culture
Since 2005, Bantayo Aweg volunteers—youth from the Obu-Manuvu and Bagobo communities—have served as “Water Guardians,” conducting monthly water-quality monitoring of the Panigan-Tamugan Watershed. Their traditional ecological knowledge and cultural values have been vital in preserving the river’s water quality. Meanwhile, the Bantay Bukid volunteer program, launched in 2011, expanded conservation efforts to include forest patrolling, reforestation, biodiversity monitoring, and watershed protection. These programs not only augment government capabilities but also strengthen protection of the Panigan-Tamugan Watershed.
Their stewardship preserves the ecological balance of the watershed while anchoring the project in ancestral wisdom and sustainability. This partnership between modern infrastructure and indigenous guardianship exemplifies how true progress respects and uplifts those who have long protected the land.
With the Davao Region’s population steadily growing, reliance on groundwater would strain aquifers and compromise long-term sustainability. By harnessing surface water, the DCBWSP addresses the city’s present and future needs while offering a model for inclusive, community-based urban development.
This Kadayawan, as we celebrate the gifts of nature and culture, we also honor the Indigenous Peoples whose role as stewards of the land continues to guide Davao toward a more sustainable future. With a population of 1.85 million—the highest in the Davao Region—Davao City is home to this landmark project, a testament to how innovation rooted in tradition and community can shape a better future not just for Davao, but for the whole of Mindanao.
Because here, progress isn’t just a goal—it’s a promise. One that honors both people and place.