Intro: In the Philippines, the lack of access to safe drinking water is a critical

problem affecting the health and productivity of people, especially poor households.
For many poor households, only a thin line separates the spaces used for cooking
and eating, bathing and as toilets and garbage disposals.
As of 2010, 16% of Filipino households lacked access to clean and potable water as
what the national Statistical Coordination Board reported. Like the case of

Interview 1: Aling ___

Buys water from neighbors who have pipe water connection, stores them in
containers
Drinking mineral water from purified water system
Uses poso for other purposes (bathing, laundry, etc)
(Gie-ann you can emphasize here the issue regarding how many Filipinos
water pipe system in their households? Kasi ate has a house pero still she has
to buy from her neighbores water, pwede rin you can already include what
the government says about this problem)
Isip ng transition about the use of poso.
Interview 2: Ate ___
Uses poso only for laundry, admits there are cases of people whove had
diarrhea when they drank water from the poso.
(Gie-ann, Check on the ways by which the poso can get contaminated when
near a dirty body of water, pwede rin include some research what does the
government has to say about using the poso? Are there cases in Metro Manila
wherein water in poso was found to be contaminated, statistics on how many
Filipinos still rely on poso)
The percentage of Filipino households depending on bottled water has been
increasing, but not anyone can afford this. The demand for water remains
exponential. Commercialization and privatization of water supply and distribution
may solve the demand but not the accessibility of safe water supply. Take the case
of.
Interview 3: Ate ____
In one week, 50 containers = 10 families people order in bulk
(Gie-ann, the issue here can be water commercialization. Has this really
solved the problem regarding water scarcity? Or did it make safe water
supply more inaccessible to those who cant afford it?)

The country has the sanitation code of 1975 which sets standards on food,
water, toilets among other public goods, services and establishments. The DOH also
prescribed standards on drinking water. Investing in water and sanitation is costly.
Yet evidence has shown that the cost of not ensuring access to drinking water and
sanitation is even higher in terms of public health and lost work and school days. In
2010, DOH together with Department of Interior and Local Government and the
National Anti-poverty commission began conducting the Sagana at Ligtas na Tubig
sa Lahat Program As of 2012, it has covered 290 out of its 455 targeted
beneficiaries. It plans to cover waterless areas from 2013-2016, with an annual
budget of P1.5 billion according to a NAPC statement.
Until the present not all Filipinos, however, directly benefit from these policies. Take
the case of Ate Baby. (Tapos introduce na natin scenario niya)
Interview 4: Ate Baby
Garbage collector who lives under the bridge, no toilet available
Uses poso for other purposes, pero drinks tap water from other households
who sell it.
1 gallon = 1 peso
Spends almost 1000 a month for safe water supply
Family earns at 2000+ a month as garbage collector
The UN recognizes ones access to water and sanitation as a basic human right.
Every person has the right to sufficient, safe, accessible and affordable water. Water
costs should not exceed 3% of the household income; however, in Ate Babys case,
its more than 50% of what they earn as garbage collectors. Furthermore, a UN
study found out that families from Manila slums pay 5-10 times more water than
those from high-income areas. They also pay more than those in London and New
York.
Finale:
Arent all these a violation of ones rights to water and sanitation? Although Right
to water doesnt mean free water for all it is clear that it is equivalent to
affordable water. On the other hand, some Filipinos indifferent to the needs woes
of others tend to waste and take water for granted.