The government has built water systems for more than 4,000 families in seven impoverished barangays in Palawan as part of a nationwide effort to meet the targets of a special water and sanitation program established by President Arroyo in 2004, the National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC) announced recently.

NAPC Secretary Domingo F. Panganiban said the government invested more than P10 million for the construction of water systems for some 4,135 underprivileged Filipino families in barangays Jolo, Sitio Sader, San Fernando, Brooke’s Point, Ocayan and Quezon, all in the first and second engineering districts of Palawan.

“The water systems were built under the President’s Priority Program on Water (P3W) and are presently maintained and operated by barangay associations and local government units,” Panganiban said.

The NAPC chief said the water systems have helped to improve living conditions in beneficiary communities.

He said the P3W facilities have reduced the incidence of waterborne disease among the beneficiary families, allowing better sanitation systems and a cleaner, healthier environment.

“People in some of the P3W beneficiary barangays used to travel great distances to fetch safe drinking water for their families and their homes. They don’t have to do that anymore,” Panganiban added.

He expressed his gratitude for the cooperation and assistance of Palawan’s local governments, and urged strong community action and accountability in the maintenance of the facilities.

“One of the central ideas behind the P3W is local governments and communities working hand in hand for the health and welfare of all,” he said.

The government has built water systems for nearly a million Filipinos nationwide under the P3W since 2005.