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Naawan's Potable Water Supply System Inspires Other Towns
by Rita Festin, ADB National Officer

Naawan, Misamis Oriental -- This municipality, located just one hour from the city of Cagayan de Oro, was unheard of until it made the front page of newspapers by being proclaimed the "Christmasterpiece: Bayanihang Pasko 2005" Grand Winner. Beating major cities and towns nationwide, Naawan won the Christmas landmark competition with its colorful "Arch of Friendship: Building Future with People" entry. However, despite this municipality’s creativity, it had an unfulfilled need for basic services such as potable water.

In a local high school in Naawan, students enjoy washing their hands with abundant and reliable water supply.

In 2003, Naawan’s water supply system served only 517 households. Then by means of a loan, the town was able to greatly improve sanitation and to expand coverage of its water supply facilities. Upgrading of the system ultimately allowed it to serve 1,391 families, including 300 households in neighboring municipalities. This benefited coastal barangays (neighborhood administrative units) and the poblacion, and extended services to the towns of Manticao and Lugait.

The new 25 horsepower pump boosts water supply.

Upgrading of Naawan’s water supply system included replacement of aging pipelines and construction of a new reservoir with a capacity of 220 cubic meters. In addition, one of the system’s two pumps was upgraded, the old 10-horsepower unit being replaced with a more powerful 25-horsepower pump. This greatly boosted capacity and ensured that the 60-cubic-meter-per-hour requirement of the newly-established copper industrial plant located nearby would be fulfilled. The result of all of these welcome changes is that in Naawan, water is now naawas, or overflowing—not only in Naawan, but in adjacent towns as well.

Goats get to drink water in Naawan, known as "the home of money-making goats".

In addition to the above benefits, upgrading of Naawan’s water supply system allowed the average monthly income accruing to the facility to increase dramatically. When the upgraded facility became operational, revenues rose from just P300,000 to P1 million, and by end-2008, to P2.7 million—a 700 percent increase in five years. To put this into perspective, income from Naawan’s water supply system is now equivalent to approximately half the municipality's total revenue.

The total cost of the upgrading was P15.8 million. Of this amount, nearly P12 million was financed by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) under its Mindanao Basic Urban Services Sector (MBUSS) project. The MBUSS project is implemented by the Philippines’ Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) in partnership with the Nordic Development Fund and the Land Bank of the Philippines.

Naawan Mayor Dennis Roa is grateful for the improved potable water system that provides reliable water supply.

"This project benefits a lot of people in the municipality of Naawan", according to Mayor Dennis Roa. "I am thankful to the ADB/DILG MBUSS project. We are not only serving the people, helping the people, but we are gaining from this project as well. We have paid off most of our loans and the profit is a little bit high. It's good for our town and its municipal coffers," the Mayor said.

The ADB MBUSS project helps improve living conditions among Mindanao urban residents by providing them access to basic urban infrastructure and essential municipal services. In addition to water supply systems, the project finances construction and rehabilitation of public markets, gymnasiums, transport terminals, cultural centers, and municipal buildings. Eleven of Mindanao’s provinces have benefited from the project, the coverage of which extends to about 40 local government units (LGUs). The project also provides training to LGUs to ensure that the facilities constructed or upgraded are managed in a way that ensures that project benefits are sustained over time.

Cities and towns in Mindanao other than Naawan have greatly benefited from initiatives financed under the MBUSS project. For example, new public markets have been constructed in Ozamiz City; R. T. Lim Zamboanga Sibugay; Dumalinao, Zamboanga del Sur; Alicia in Zamboanga Sibugay; Datu Odin Sinsuat and Buluan towns in Maguindanao; Mati, Davao Oriental; Makilala, North Cotabato; Guipos, Zamboanga del Sur; Hagonoy, Davao del Sur; Barobo, Surigao del Sur; and Cabadbaran in Agusan del Sur. Similarly, gymnasiums have been constructed under the MBUSS project in San Isidro, Surigao del Norte; Sibuco, Zamboanga del Norte; and Pilar, Surigao del Norte.

Naawan's famous goat's milk

The project has also constructed transport terminals in Panabo City; Isulan, Sultan Kudarat; and in Kidapawan City. In addition, a new auditorium has been built in Kolambugan, Lanao del Norte, and an exhibition center in Siocon, Zamboanga del Norte has been built. Water supply systems have also been constructed in Impasugong, Bukidnon; Alamada, North Cotabato; and Tago, Surigao del Sur. Similarly, heavy-duty equipment for road maintenance has been provided for Norala, South Cotabato; Lugait, Misamis Oriental; Tukuran, Zamboanga del Sur; and Hagonoy, Davao del Sur.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo inaugurated some of the MBUSS subprojects herself, including the Kapatagan municipal hall in Lanao del Norte (2006), and the Ozamiz City Public Mall (2009). Other towns benefiting from new municipal halls constructed under the MBUSS project include Mahayag, Zamboanga del Sur; Jabonga, Agusan del Sur; Datu Paglas, Maguindanao; and Jasaan, Misamis Oriental.

Philippines

Naawan's Potable Water Supply System Inspires Other Towns by Rita Festin, ADB National Officer

Naawan's Potable Water Supply System Inspires Other Towns
by Rita Festin, ADB National Officer