Marginalized communities in the fourth class municipality of Damulog, Bukidnon will soon benefit from the Department of Science and Technology’s (DOST) implementation of Project AQWAH or “Advancement on the Quality of Water Available for Household use through establishment of Water Reservoir Tank built-in with Ceramic Water Filter”.

DOST Secretary Fortunato “Boy” T. de la Peña announced that the project will be rolled out by DOST-X in early next year, benefitting about 2,500 residents from Barangay Sampagar, a geographically isolated and disadvantaged area (GIDA) community in Damulog, Bukidnon.

Under the project, 160 ceramic water filters will be distributed to households in the area and its neighboring sitios.

“Currently, the only water source of Barangay Sampagar is a spring that have recently been found out to exceed the maximum allowable level of HPC (Heterotrophic Plate Count), phosphate concentration, TSS (Total Suspended Solids), total coliform, and E. coli as set by the Department of Health (DOH) in the Philippine National Standards for Drinking Water. Three species of bacteria in the study site were also found. This led to the conclusion that it has been causing the leading health concerns in the area,” de la Peña lamented.

The implementation of Project AQWAH is made possible through the agency’s Community Empowerment for Science and Technology (CEST) program.

“Through the CEST Program and the close partnership with LGU of Damulog and Old Damulog National High School, the Project AQWAH will be rolled out in the community in the early months of 2022,” de la Peña said.

“The project aims to achieve zero water-borne related diseases and promote proper hygiene and sanitation in the community of Sitio Langahan, Barangay Sampagar, Damulog, Bukidnon.”

The DOST-Industrial Technology Development Institute developed the ceramic water filters, but such technology was adopted, patented and produced by the Mindanao State University - Iligan Institute of Technology (MSU-IIT).

De la Peña also cited DOST XII’s implementation of a water facility project in South Cotabato to provide clean and safe water for over 300 households.

Benefiting from the project were remote areas of Sitio Desikit and Nap, Laconon in T’boli, South Cotabato.

The water facility project is scheduled to be transferred to the custody of the locals next month, the DOST chief said.

The project aims to address the long-standing drinking water problem in T’boli, South Cotabato.