BRINGING WATER, BRINGING LIFE: HEDCOR’S WATER ACCESS PROJECTS TRANSFORM COMMUNITIES NATIONWIDE

April 5, 2025 Community Billboard

WATER PROJECTS – Kamog Waterworks Association President Jun Tad-o (right) and a community member demonstrate the community’s improved water access, showcasing the transition from manually collecting water from a distant spring to having a direct and reliable water supply.

Beyond infrastructure, these water access projects are transforming lives, ensuring that families, farmers, and entire communities have the resources they need to thrive. Hedcor Vice President for Corporate Services Noreen Vicencio emphasized that clean water access is not a privilege, but a fundamental right. “By ensuring stable water access, we are helping our host communities become more resilient to climate challenges, improving health outcomes, and securing livelihoods. These initiatives create lasting solutions that empower people
and support a sustainable future,”Vicencio said.

For many Filipino communities, access to clean water remains a daily struggle. In remote villages, families wake before 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 limited water supply. Without reliable access to water, daily life, public health, and economic stability remain at risk.

Recognizing the urgent need for sustainable water solutions, Hedcor, the run-of-river hydro power operator of AboitizPower, has partnered with local governments and communities to improve water infrastructure in several communities across the country. Through rainwater harvesting systems, water impounding structures, and upgraded pipelines, Hedcor is ensuring thousands of families have reliable access to water, a resource critical for health, agriculture, and climate resilience.

Easing the Burden of Water Collection
For decades, households in Benguet’s remote areas struggled with limited water access. In Barangay Dalipey, Bakun, Benguet, 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 Sablan, Benguet faced a similar challenge. For decades, families hiked nearly an hour uphill to collect water from a spring, making this not just a chore but a daily hardship.

Today, their reality has changed. Through Hedcor’s Php 1.8 million worth of projects, these communities now have newly installed water
pipelines and dedicated storage tanks, providing clean water to over 1,200 households. The projects are part of the community development initiatives of Hedcor in areas where its ROR plants are located. Dalipey Barangay Captain Domingo Marcelo considers these projects a transformative one 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 to meet a basic need,” Marcelo shared.

In Sablan, Kamog Waterworks Association President Jun Tad-o shared that access to clean water has eased the daily hardships of many
families. “Our children now have access to clean, safe water without the exhausting trips. It’s a great relief for the entire community, especially for the elderly,” Tad-o said.

Securing Farmers’Livelihoods
Beyond households, water access can also determine the success or failure of an entire farming in constructing a water impounding system to ensure continuous irrigation for farmlands, allowing farmers to withstand dry seasons and unpredictable weather patterns. The water impounding system benefits over 200 farmers in addressing long-standing challenges that once put food production and livelihoods at
risk. Labrador-Laguit Upland Farmers Association President Salvador Belingan emphasized the significance of the project, ”Without this water system, all our hard work as farmers would be wasted. Now, we have the security to continue farming even during the hottest months.”

Bringing Relief to Drought-Stricken Families
When El Niño’s drought hit Bukidnon in May 2024, thousands of families struggled with severe water shortages. To address this, Hedcor installed 13 rainwater harvesting tanks in affected barangays, providing both immediate relief and a sustainable water source to 9,000 households. “For us, these tanks don’t just store water—they bring hope,” said Barangay Impasugong resident Michael Mendoza. “Before, we had no choice but to endure long days without enough water. Now, we have a stable supply for cooking, cleaning, and sustaining small farms.” The water tanks also support local schools and healthcare facilities, ensuring proper hygiene and sanitation even during prolonged dry spells.

Empowering Schools and Health Centers
In 2024, Sacasun, an AboitizPower’s solar power farm in San Carlos City, Negros Occidental, installed handwashing stations in schools and health centers, ensuring that students and patients no longer have to worry about water shortages affecting their daily routines.
Reliable water access has transformed these schools and health centers, reducing the risk of disease and improving overall well-being.
“This initiative not only protects our children’s health but also instills lifelong hygiene habits,” said Mag-amihan Elementary School Principal Maegen Limpio. “With a steady water supply, students can focus on their education instead of worrying about where their next drink of water will come from.” ilding Resilient Communities From rural villages to drought-affected towns, Hedcor’s water projects are
making a difference, proving that clean water is not just a necessity, but a foundation of healthier, stronger, and more resilient communities.