For many years, residents of Barangay Nagyubyuban, La Union would walk five kilometers to fetch water for drinking from a spring in a dry riverbed. Imagine how they farm to live with the pronounced lack of water. Worse, drought has become a perennial concern that bleeds them dry of productive yield to support their daily needs as well as enough food to eat.

No sooner than June this year, the travails of villagers will become a thing of the past.

Tubigayan LU, a project to tap water from a spring and distribute them to households in five purok or pockets of communities is underway.

Thanks to Junior Chamber International (JCI), acting on a request from the local government, initiated the P300,000 worth of community development project targeted to benefit 444 families.

Water from the spring will be stored in the water tanks that are being installed in the respective purok.

Support materials like hoses, filters, pipes, and pumps are provided to complete the simple infrastructure to deliver water to every household at affordable rates.

The project is expected to create water and work-related changes in the lives of 1, 471 residents.

Alongside the construction of a water distribution system, the project partners are also educating residents on the proper use of water in households and farmlands following the United Nations’ sustainable development goals of “clean water & sanitation” and “decent work & economic growth.”

According to the National Water Resources Board (NWRB), around 11 million Filipinos have no access to clean and safe water.

During the Laging Handa public briefing last March, NWRB executive director Sevillo David pointed out that these families get water from “unsafe” sources such as deep wells, springs, rivers, lakes, and rainwater.

The Junior Chamber International (JCI) is an organization dedicated to the development of young leaders, offering them a platform to cultivate social responsibility, entrepreneurship, and fellowship essential for creating positive change. JCI Manila holds the distinction of being the pioneering chapter in both the Philippines and Asia.

The Tubigayan project is driven by a remarkable group of young leaders who exemplify unwavering dedication and a strong sense of purpose. The following youth leaders represent the best in their generation, each playing a crucial role in the project’s success:

Jhabes Monzones, Cjay Prenksamar, Ram Gutierrez, Crissangelo Pagal, and Shawn Yan. Together, they demonstrate their deep commitment to making a positive impact on their community.