Harmonizing with the sound of the gushing faucet water, is the sound of a man’s resounding laughter—bidding goodbye to decades of trekking a distance to quench their daily thirst and need of water. 

 The screams of the bayanihan spirit reverberated in the uplands as the Central Philippines State University (CPSU), the local community, and partners installed a 5000-liter tank with water piping for sixteen households at Purok Upper Ballo, Barangay Tagukon, Kabankalan City under the Water for the Waterless Project. 

 In partnership with the Provincial Environment Management Office and the Philippine Red Cross Bacolod Chapter, the water system project is now successfully providing the recipient community with safe and potable water in the comfort of their respective households after the PEMO-donated water tank and the CPSU water line counterpart were installed and connected with the spring source.

 Having a 600-meter distance from the community, the spring source located within the PEMO’s Local Conservation Area (LCA), was susceptible to the introduction of water contaminants due to unavoidable human contact from domestic activities.

 However, with the water system discharging an average of 40 liters per minute in the household faucets and in one communal outlet, the susceptibility of the spring to pollutants will be hopefully minimized, preserving its potable water quality for generations of upland and lowland dwellers to sustainably benefit.

 In addition, through improving access to clean water for domestic and agricultural use, the project encourages farming-based livelihood in the community, instead of destructive deforestation activities caused by traditional and unsustainable raw material outsourcing.

 The project also targets active community participation in safeguarding the local forests from man-inflicted environmentally-degrading activities through information drives focused on the significance of preserving the local forest in the protection of the local watershed conducted by CPSU and Ph Red Cross. Despite its straightforward design, the Water for the Waterless Project aims to contribute to the attainment of six United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

 Apart from the attainment of SDG 6 or the “Clean Water and Sanitation” by protecting the upland spring from contaminants and pollutants, the project also seeks to minimize the health risks posed by water-borne diseases and other communicable diseases, and to make the Upper Ballo Community as a resilient and sustainable human settlement with access to potable water—targeting SDG 3 or the Good Health and Well-Being, and the SDG 11 or the Sustainable Cities and Communities. 

 In addition, the project is also focused on the realization of SDG 15 or the “Life on Land” by implementing a trade-off which nudges project recipients to take active part in protecting the water source through regreening the vicinity with native tree species which simultaneously provides habitat to upland fauna and promotes the conservation of the areas’ biodiversity.

 Furthermore, by supporting the recipients’ agricultural livelihood, the project also encourages engagement to decent and honorable trade, engagement to entrepreneurship through small and medium-sized enterprises, and promoting local culture as reflected by creative and innovative food products—aiding in the accomplishment of SDG 8 or the “Decent Work and Economic Growth.

 ” By directly or indirectly fostering economic growth and improving the daily lives of the recipient community, the project also manifests genuine service by the state which delimits the community’s vulnerability from armed movements’ propaganda which exploits disadvantaged and vulnerable sectors, including children, to participate in armed conflicts—promoting the realization of SDG 16 or “Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions”. 

 Championed by CPSU President, Dr. Aladino C. Moraca, the project materialized with the efforts of the university personnel from the Production and Enterprise Development Office headed by Director, Dr. Marivic P. Pedrosa, and the Extension and Community Services Office, headed by Director, Dr. Jimmy O. Degillo, who worked with the Upper Ballo community during the two-day installation on May 1-2, 2025. 

 Project proponents traversed muddy trails and steep-uphill terrain to deliver the materials and to install the system—overcoming the topographical adversity through laborious and persevered efforts in extending public service for the isolated and disadvantaged. 

 The combined efforts and resources of government agencies and its non-government organization partner will hopefully assure Filipinos in far-flung and isolated areas that they are part of the government’s vision for shared progress and nation-building.