Following the inauguration of the bulk water supply project serving 24 barangays in the municipality of Calasiao in the Province of Pangasinan, Calasiao Water solidified a partnership with Water.Org Philippines to deliver sustainable solutions in the provision of reliable water to households, especially urban poor communities in the municipality.

In the one-year partnership agreement, Calasiao Water will plan, design and lay down the infrastructure to connect each household to piped water that would be made available 24/7.

Water.Org, on the other hand, shall provide advisory services and technical assistance related to marketing water services to the poor including the development of appropriate information, education and communication (IEC) materials focusing on four major topics: hygiene education, demand generation, demand management and financial literacy. Short-term financing options will also be offered through Water.Org for water connection fees and after-the-meter piping needs.

In the same token, Laguna Water renewed its partnership with Water.Org using the same business model – the Water Connect Project. The partnership was piloted a year ago with the same goal of supporting Filipino families who do not have enough means to gain access to reliable water source. The project, which not only ensures good health and safety, will also promote community organizing, as well as provide technical advice and financial services to targeted marginalized communities. At present, a total of 1,500 urban poor households have been connected to Laguna Water and the renewal of the partnership aims to scale up more connections to poor households in the cities of Sta. Rosa, Biñan, Cabuyao and new expansion areas of Laguna Water.

Water.Org is an international NGO that promotes access of poor households or “base-of-the-pyramid” communities to water and sanitation services. It has been working with water utilities globally aiming to connect urban and rural poor households to piped water services.