BAMBAN, Tarlac — Clark Freeport stakeholders have launched a deep well facility in Sitio Burog, Barangay San Vicente of this town Friday.
Led by the Clark Development Corporation (CDC), the deep well facility aims to enhance access to clean and safe water. The group also launched an initiative to create and maintain a community garden in the area.
Collaborating in the project are Pilipinas Shell Foundation, Inc. (PSFI), Manila Water Foundation (MWF), Clark Water Corporation (CWC), Bloomberry Cultural Foundation Inc. (BCFI), and World Vision Development Foundation (WVDF).
CDC vice president for Security Services, PMGen. Lina Sarmiento (Ret.) emphasized the corporation’s commitment to inclusive development in Clark and its surrounding communities.
Officials from various partner organizations attended the inauguration ceremony. These included Reginald Andal, executive director of MWF; Maria Pamela Castro, senior program manager for Nutrition and Food Security; executive director Sebastian Quiniones, Jr. both from PSFI; Filipina Laurena, executive director of BCFI; and San Vicente barangay kagawad Remy Tolentino.
All speakers expressed a shared emphasis on collaboration among private entities to support marginalized communities.
Sebastian Quiniones, Jr., Executive Director of PSFI, said that the project is a continuing advocacy of the collaborators.
In support of long-term community empowerment, 30 goats were distributed to Aeta families in Sitio Burog as part of the livelihood assistance program, alongside key water and agricultural initiatives.
For his part, Andal cited that more than 700 residents will benefit from the 150-meter deep well and community garden.
This project is a component of the Roots to Shoots program, a three-year multi-stakeholder effort led by PSFI, focusing on health and nutrition, food security and livelihood, and water access, sanitation, and hygiene to improve the well-being of undernourished communities in the Philippines.