The upland village of San Antonio in Sergio Osmeňa

DIPOLOG CITY – Over 300 households in two mountain villages in Zamboanga del Norte will have access to clean, potable water after the Rotary Club of Dipolog City and the USAID funded-Alliance for Mindanao Off-grid Renewable Energy (AMORE) Program launch the Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Project on January 29 at the Provincial Capitol grounds. Community-based water systems will be constructed in Barangay San Antonio in the municipality of Sergio Osmeňa and Barangay Panampalay in Roxas.

In addition to bringing safe, potable water, the WASH project will educate community members regarding sanitation and hygiene maintenance. The WASH Project engages active participation in the community-based water system’s operation and maintenance for long-term sustainability and impact.

Women in Brgy. Panampalay in Roxas

Furthermore, since 2002, USAID AMORE’s rural electrification program has provided electricity to over 14,000 households in over 400 barangays in rural Mindanao using renewable energy sources such as solar and microhydro. The AMORE Program has also constructed potable water systems. To date, ten potable water systems have been constructed benefitting over 5,000 households across Mindanao.

USAID and the Rotary Foundation will provide a total of US$1,061,765 grant funding for five water and sanitation projects to Philippine Rotary Clubs and Districts.