Tanza (Bicol and Chungkang Areas) Micro-project:
Samahang Patubig ng Tanza
Samahang Patubig ng Tanza is a micro-project that aims to facilitate potent water connections for the whole community. Its initial objective was to set off a batch of 10 households by applying for a clustered water meter connection originally instigated during the YP Workshop held last October 21 to 27. An underlying purpose of the project is to educate the community on proper water management. Assuring the sustainability of the project was also a sub-objective that was taken into consideration. The project is being facilitated by community leaders, DAMPA organizers and the YP team composed of Cherry Mateo, Gloryrose Dy, Jesmar Catuiran, and Rowel Lucilo.
After the presentation of the project proposal during the YP Workshop, the team immediately organized a meeting at the community on November 9, 2009. An agreement that meetings shall be held every Monday was made. Brain storming on policies, beneficiary criteria and payments to be made was also done. In follow-up meetings and consultations, the rules on membership fees, passbook and savings requirements were also resolved. The Samahang Patubig membership has also increased from 13 to 29 members.
By December, project cost estimates and Certificate of Inspection (CI) forms and policies were finalized with the members. Household visits were conducted and a dialogue with Maynilad Water Services was held to discuss application and connection fees. The initial target of 10 households was also increased to 25 households because it was deemed more economical.
The YP team is now completing the mapping of the community to produce a water supply plan and distribution layout which will be used as a reference for the installation of water connections. A community echo-workshop on water and sanitation is also scheduled to the held by February.
MASAGANA Micro-project:
Community Pathway
The identified micro-project for the MASAGANA (Mamamayang Sama-samang Gabay ng Naaapi) community during the YP Workshop in October was the construction of an elevated pathway within the inundated areas of the community. The community pathway, seen as an initial effort to finding solutions to their water and sanitation problems, will provide easier access to people when fetching potable water especially during high tides. Meetings at the community were conducted after the YP Workshop and a committee for the construction of the pathway was created. Also discussed were project cost estimates, permits for construction, and fund raising. The YP team came up with an estimated project cost of PhP 800T for a 153-meter long elevated pathway made of bamboo and concrete.
A fund-raising activity (raffle) was organized in December to augment the organization’s funds for the community pathway project. However, the unresolved issue of security of land tenure will largely determine if the project can be successfully implemented. The organization is continuously negotiating with the landowner to resolve the issue and prioritizing projects to gain access to basic services such as supplying electricity to a number of households. A project on community-based solid waste management is also being implemented in MASAGANA. The YP team composed of Christina Fiel, Jan Michael Lumbang, and Verna Sarraga will also be providing technical support for these community projects.
UNNAI Micro-project:
Drainage Improvement
After the YP Workshop in October, the YP team assigned at UNNAI (Upper NAWASA Neighborhood Association, Inc.) met with the community leaders and considered two micro-project proposals for the community. The first micro-project is the improvement of the drainage lines in Purok 5, the area in the community with the lowest elevation and where flooding occurrence is most severe. The second micro-project option is the rehabilitation of an existing community deep well.
The YP team (composed of Jayson Cruzat, Razel Robines, Inno Bengson, and John Sayson) together with the community leaders has done ocular inspections to determine ground elevations and existing conditions of the drainage lines. They have also mapped the drainage lines, approximately 60 meters in length, which have been targeted for improvement. The team is currently facilitating consultations with engineering professionals to discuss their proposed schemes for the project.
