Water and Sanitation in the Philippines

Waterborne diseases such as cholera, typhoid and dysentery are transmitted via contaminated water sources. Eighty-eight percent of cases of diarrhoea worldwide are attributable to unsafe water, inadequate sanitation or insufficient hygiene. According to the World Health Organisation, these cases result in 1.5 million deaths each year, most being the deaths of children.

ABM works with the Episcopal Church in the Philippines (ECP) to provide water and sanitation systems to rural and isolated communities. Many of these areas are inhabited by indigenous people, such as the Igorot tribe in the north and Tedurays in the south. Here poverty is widespread and vital infrastructure and basic services are often lacking due to limited government funding and inhospitable terrain.
In the last few years, the program has also served migrant communities in the foothills and lowlands where different tribal groups come together in search of livelihood and better opportunities.

Our integrated water, sanitation and hygiene projects involve the construction of simple gravity-fed and deep well systems, water tanks and water-sealed toilets. It also includes protecting the watershed, ensuring that there is minimal impact on the surrounding environment and encourages the planting of trees where needed.

To sustain the program, leadership and maintenance training is conducted to encourage community members to take ownership and responsibility for the new facilities. Training workshops on health and hygiene are also held to educate the local people. It is hoped that water related diseases will be reduced in some villages by at least 20 per cent.
With continued funding and support for the Water and Sanitation project, all will enjoy better health and quality of life. This results in greater productivity, which benefits communities as a whole.

This project needs $100,000 in 2010.
Donations to this program are tax deductible.

You can Donate Now to this project by selecting Water and Sanitation in Philippines from the full project list.

Download a PDF copy of the project information sheet for Water and Sanitation in the Philippines.