Water

Country Water Action: Philippines
Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Sector Project

Bulan Bulan BWSA
Jordan, Guimaras

Guimaras, considered one of the exotic islands in the Philippines, was once a sub-province of Iloilo, and was only proclaimed as a full-pledged province on May 22, 1992. It has 5 towns, with Jordan town as the capital. It has a land area of 604.65 sq. km, and a population estimated at 117,990. The province is basically agricultural with palay, coconut, mango, vegetables, livestock, poultry and fishing as major products. Its major industries are tourism, fruit processing, coconut processing, handicrafts making, mining, quarrying and lime production.

Guimaras actively implements the Project with strong support from the provincial management. Its governor, Hon. J. Nava, is a medical doctor who practices at his free time, and has a good knowledge of water-related diseases. A highly motivated team of women runs the BWSA. In addition to resources given by DPWH and the provincial government, the BWSA was able to raise funds to construct a water tank.

A spring water source about 2 km away from the barangay was equipped with a submersible pump and a generator. This was provided to them by the Department of Public Works and Highways, together with well and pipe materials. A total of 16 communal faucets were also installed to serve 76 households of about 400 persons, which would be expanded to 34 more households.

The BWSA operates and maintains one water supply system. They collecteded P50 per household per month (/HH-mo) up to December 2002, and increased this to P60/HH-mo from January 2003.