Manila Water Foundation (MWF) launches its fourth Integrated WASH community program in a Dumagat community at Norzagaray, Bulacan. This is in time for important observances in the month of October: Global Handwashing Day, the National Indigenous Peoples Month and the 25th year of the enactment of the Indigenous Peoples’ Rights Act or the IPRA Law.

Through MWF’s core advocacy of water access, sanitation and hygiene or WASH, more than one hundred Dumagat households living within the Ipo Watershed in Sitio Sapang Munti will soon have better access to clean, potable water. This is MWF’s synergy project with the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS), the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP), and the local government unit of Norzagaray, Bulacan. 

In MWF’s approach to WASH, sanitation or the provision of safely-managed toilets and hygiene education complement the water access phase. The Ipo Watershed is a valuable link in the watershed system which supplies 96 percent of Metro Manila’s water needs. This MWF WASH program is aligned with the Ipo Watershed Management Plan, which safeguards its responsible protection, development, management and conservation.

A series of technical and social assessments were conducted, in coordination with the MWSS Watershed Division and the Dumagat community members. The water access project is seen to improve health, sanitation and economic conditions within the IP community. Beyond the water infrastructure, Manila Water Foundation will enable the community to value the project and enhance community stewardship for the project’s sustainability. The water system is seen to be operated and managed by the Dumagat community chieftains and the women leaders of Samahan ng Kababaihan para sa Kaunlaran at Kinabukasan ng Sapang Munti. Through this project, Manila Water Foundation further commits to support indigenous communities through WASH.