DAVAO CITY – It is a blissful holiday season for the indigenous people of Sitio Panaga in Barangay Colosas, Paquibato District, here as they finally have access to a basic water system after several years of struggling with water scarcity.

Apo Agua Infrastuctura Inc. (Apo Agua) and the Davao City Police Office-Revitalized Pulis sa Barangay (DCPO-RPSB) have established a basic water system in the indigenous community to give people access to clean water.

Over 350 houses belonging to the Ata-Manobo indigenous people community will benefit from Apo Agua's recent donation of 1,500 meters of pipes and construction supplies to DCPO in support of the RPSB's small-scale water solution project.

The DCPO-RPSB’s small-scale water solution project targets Barangay Colosas, Barangay Council Complex, and the Datu Libayo Elementary School.

Dubbed “Project Blue,” according to Apo Agua, the small-scale water system aims to alleviate the persistent water inaccessibility problems of more communities that will not directly benefit from the bulk water project.

It brings sustainable small-scale water solutions to host communities such as water catchment structures and water pipes and promotes locals' participation as active partners in a workable project.

Residents of Barangay Colosas thanked Apo Agua and DCPO for addressing water scarcity as they have long yearned for an improved water supply in the community, said RBSP in Barangay Colosas team leader Lt. Gary Aldaba.

Project Blue is a testament that the Filipinos’ most valued culture of “bayanihan” is still very much alive – giving a hand to the community and accomplishing goals together as one.

“We are very thankful for Apo Agua's support for the RPSB programs. This water augmentation for the barangay would not have materialized without their support. As they say, water is life and the most basic need in any place,” Aldaba said.

Apo Agua hopes that these water solutions will close the gap in resource allocation and enhance teamwork to ensure that water supply sources will be maintained and sustained. This will also develop the spirit of collaboration among local community stakeholders.

“Our goal is to provide small-scale water solutions in our immediate communities through Project Blue. Our team is equipped with engineers with the right technical expertise in water operations, and we can put our knowledge to use by working closely with the community and ensuring these projects are effective and sustainable,” Apo Agua president Anna Lu said.

The Aboitiz-led Apo Agua vowed to be a longstanding partner of the Davao City Water District (DCWD) by helping mobilize the water truck initiative as an intermediary water solution for Davao City residents awaiting the near completion of the bulk water project.