In a steep, rocky road in the mountain of Agoncillo lies a community where a perfect view of Taal Lake can be seen. Residents of Brgy. Barigon starts and end their day with the view of the water just underneath them.
Unfortunately, being surrounded by lake and rivers does not automatically give the community access to and supply of potable water, so residents have to travel to nearby communities and walk for two kilometers to draw water from a different source for Php 150 to Php 200 pesos per container or per 200 liters.
Silvestre C. Hernandez, 51, a native of Barangay Barigon knows exactly how precious having water systems in their area can be. He even describes water as valuable as gold not just only for him, but also for the whole barangay.
Last year, with the help of the Municipal Government of Agoncillo, Batangas and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) under the Bottom-up Budgeting (BuB) Salintubig and the SALINTUBIG programs, the implementation of water systems in Brgy. Barigon was completed.
“Marami ang naitulong ng patubig na ito. Mas guminhawa ang buhay sa pag-inom at pagluto dahil hindi na kami kukuha sa ulan at maglalakad nang malayo para sa tubig” said Nanay Stefania Aala, 52, one of the officials in the barangay.
Punong Barangay Magno Humarang, 50, also expressed his deepest gratitude to the LGU and DILG because the water system enhanced the quality of life of thousand families in their barangay.
Locals can now enjoy taking a bath, cleaning houses, watering the plants, and other activities that requires the use of water whenever they want to for just Php 3.00 each container and Php 21.00 for drums for the operation, maintenance, and payment for the electricity consumed by the tank.
However, they were advised that residents need to boil their water before drinking and using the same for cooking.
In spite of this, Humarang assured the residents that series of laboratory tests will be scheduled after the initial supply from the water source be consumed. Hopefully, this year they can use the water tanks in all of its purposes.
