Aboitiz Renewables’ Water Access Projects Transform Communities

Kamog Waterworks Association President Jun Tad-o (right), together with a community member in Sablan, Benguet, showcase the community’s improved water access. With a direct and reliable supply, the community resolved longstanding water collection challenges.
Photographs courtesy of Aboitiz
In a country of about 115 million people, 60 million, or about 52 percent of Filipinos, lack access to safe water, according to Water.org.
In remote villages, family members wake at dawn to fetch water from distant sources, farmers rely on unpredictable weather to irrigate their crops, and schools and health centers face sanitation challenges due to the limited supply. Without reliable access to water, public health and socioeconomic well-being are at risk.
Recognizing the urgent need for practical and sustainable solutions, Aboitiz Renewables Inc., the renewable energy arm of Aboitiz Power Corporation (AboitizPower), has partnered with local governments and communities to improve water infrastructure in several communities across the Philippines. Through rainwater harvesting systems, water-impounding structures, and upgraded pipelines, Aboitiz Renewables is helping thousands of families finally gain reliable access to water, a resource critical for health, agriculture, and the environment.
Easing the Burden of Water Collection in the Community
For decades, households in Benguet’s remote areas struggled with limited water access.
In Barangay Dalipey, Bakun, residents once relied on a single water pump located far downhill, requiring them to carry heavy containers over rough terrain. The burden was especially difficult for the elderly and young children.
Residents of Barangay Kamog, Sablan, faced a similar challenge. For many years, families hiked nearly an hour downhill to collect water from a spring — a necessary but taxing chore.
Today, that reality is starting to change. Through the projects of Hedcor, the run-of-river hydropower operator of AboitizPower, newly installed water pipelines and dedicated storage tanks have been and are being built to provide clean water to over 1,200 households. The projects are part of the community development initiatives of Hedcor for its host communities.
Dalipey barangay captain Domingo Marcelo considers these projects transformative for their community.
“Before, we had to travel far just to collect water. Now, with a better system in place, families can spend more time on productive activities instead of struggling just to meet the basic need for water,” Marcelo shared.
“Our children now have access to clean, safe water without having to undergo exhausting trips. It’s a great relief for the entire community, especially for the elderly,” added Sablan’s Jun Tad-o, Kamog Waterworks Association President.
According to the National Water Resources Board, the Philippines has been experiencing water stress — or when demand exceeds supply — since 2017. Water availability in 2020 declined to 1,300 cubic meters per capita per year nationwide, below the water stress threshold of 1,700 cubic meters per capita and the Asian average of 3,920 cubic meters per capita.
However, national averages tend to conceal greater cases of water stress in certain areas, with about 27 percent of Filipinos still living within these places.

