Water for Communities, Philippines

Geographic Area: Manila, Philippines
Link: http://www.wbcsd.org

Getting water in the shantytowns of West Manila used to require black market purchases at vastly inflated prices or drawing from highly polluted shallow wells. In these neighborhoods, where average salaries run a meager $130/month and 80 percent of this wage is needed to support basic food and water expenses, a clean drinking water initiative driven forward by local government, private enterprises, and NGOs is breaking communities out of this cycle of poverty and disease.

Bayan Tubig, "water for communities" in Tagalog, started when the government contracted with a private consortium, Manylad Water Services Incorporated, to provide drinking water to Manila's shantytowns through communal spigots-requiring residents to carry water in buckets or bottles back to their homes. But after establishing relationships with neighborhood associations, Bayan Tubig decided that it could deliver water over the "last mile."

As it turned out, neighborhood associations not only offered their knowledge of community needs (like low-interest loans for connection fees), but also were willing to take on responsibilities like bill collection and maintenance. This partnership removed many of Bayan Tubig's practical barriers to extending water pipes directly to homes. In return, neighborhood associations received fees that were then used for health care and day care programs.

400,000 people hav e already benefited from safe drinking water piped straight into their homes. Water costs have dropped by a third, even though usage has risen significantly. Public health has improved accordingly. But the most intriguing impacts may be those furthest downstream: community members have begun to invest more in their homes, creating momentum behind legislation to secure property rights for shantytown residents.