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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider 'Surrounded by sea but no water': DENR brings safe drinking water to remote island in Mindanao

'Surrounded by sea but no water': DENR brings safe drinking water to remote island in Mindanao

Published Apr 4, 2026 01:25 pm
(PHOTO: DENR)
(PHOTO: DENR)
Residents of a remote island barangay in Zamboanga City, long surrounded by seawater but with little to drink, are now able to access safe drinking water following the installation of a government desalination system, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) said.
DENR Secretary Juan Miguel Cuna visited Barangay Tumalutab on March 31 to inspect the water filtration and desalination facility under the government’s water security program.
The project is part of efforts to improve water access in remote and underserved communities, where residents often rely on costly deliveries or unsafe sources.
Before the project, the agency said the island’s 3,436 residents — mostly informal laborers and fisherfolk — relied on costly deliveries or unsafe water sources, paying between P50 and P70 per five-gallon container or crossing open waters to the mainland to secure supply.
Barangay Chairman Joemar Abunawas told DENR that families often had to haul water from shallow wells using manual carts, exposing them to health risks.
He added that many residents, including children, frequently suffered from stomach illnesses due to poor water quality.
(PHOTO: DENR)
(PHOTO: DENR)
With the system installed in December, the DENR said residents are now able to access safe drinking water at a lower cost, with fees used to sustain the operation and maintenance of the facility.
“This project is a result of President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr.’s directives to prioritize underserved and underprivileged barangays,” Cuna said.
The Tumalutab Water Filtration and Desalination Project, valued at about P2.4 million, is among the initial six pilot sites under the Water Resources Management Office’s (WRMO) P485-million national roadmap.
(PHOTO: DENR)
(PHOTO: DENR)
The DENR said the program aims to expand water access to more island and remote communities, with over 30 projects targeted for completion before the end of 2026, benefiting up to 440,904 people nationwide.
Earlier, DENR Undersecretary for Integrated Environmental Science Carlos Primo David said the country needs about P200 billion to address water scarcity. 
He noted that around 40 million Filipinos still rely on water sources that may be unsafe or compromised due to pollution and climate change. 
The DENR has allocated P485 million for water supply projects from 2024 to 2026, covering 405 sites nationwide.

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Surrounded by sea but no water DENR safe drinking water remote island Mindanao Zamboanga
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