A reliable water supply has become one of Davao City’s quiet success stories. More than supporting the city’s growth, it has made everyday life easier for thousands of families. For Dabawenya mothers, it means simply turning on the tap and having water when they need it, giving them more time to care for their loved ones
According to global nonprofit organization Water.org, access to reliable water is a deeply personal issue for many women, who often bear the responsibility of securing water for their families. “For women, the water crisis is personal. They are responsible for finding a resource their families need to survive—for drinking, cooking, sanitation and hygiene. They may stand in line and wait for water, walk long distances to collect water, or pay exorbitant amounts of money to secure water,” the organization said.
In the Philippines, access to reliable water remains a challenge in some communities. According to a study by the Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS), only 24.2% of Filipino families get their drinking water from piped water services. Many others rely on water refilling stations, public wells, and water tankers.
A collective effort to provide water access for communities
Without reliable access to water, women—especially mothers—often take on the responsibility of making sure their families have enough clean water at home. A separate World Health Organization (WHO) report found that women and girls aged 15 and above collect water in 7 out of 10 households worldwide.
According to Flora Mae Casa, President of the Emily Homes Women’s Association, limited access to water often kept residents from doing other important tasks because they had to prioritize securing clean water for their households. With most residents working, the community relied on shared efforts to buy and collect water whenever supplies became available.
“Yun yung mga like, naga-buy kami sa Dumoy and then tulungan kami. Every time na may fire truck na mag-supply ng water sa’min. And then diba most of the residents here ay working, so tulungan namin,” Casa said. “Tinutulungan namin din na makaipon sila para pag-uwi nila meron din. So dahil sa pagtutulungan namin and then yung expense, extra expenses for the water, nakasurvive din kami,” she added.
(“We used to buy water in Dumoy, and then we’d all help each other out whenever a fire truck came to supply water to our area. Since most of the residents here work, we’d pitch in to help,” Casa said. “We also helped them store water so that when they got home from work, they’d have some, too. Through our mutual help and by taking on those extra expenses for water, we managed to survive,” she added.)
Accessible water empowers women in Davao City
Today, Davao City is responding to the city’s growing water needs through the Davao City Bulk Water Supply Project, a partnership between the Davao City Water District (DCWD) and Apo Agua Infrastructura Inc. Together, the project now delivers 300 million liters of safe drinking water every day.
The bulk water project helps the water district meet the city’s growing water demand while improving water reliability and accessibility. This is supported by DCWD’s continuing investments in expanding its distribution network across the city,
Casa shared that the improvements in the water supply has helped support women in Emily Homes, allowing them to do other activities that support their families and homes.
“It really helps kay, diba, lalo na if women so meron silang mga babies, so need water talaga for household cleaning and even us as working din na moms, lahat tayo ang water is the most basic need natin for personal hygiene, for drinking, cleaning and laundry. So, malaki ang naitulong niya sa pag-improve ng Apo Agua sa tubig naman dito, sa supply ng tubig namin sa Emily Homes,”Casa noted.
(“It’s a huge help because, especially for women with babies, water is an absolute necessity for household cleaning. Even for us working moms, water is the most basic need for everyone—for personal hygiene, drinking, cleaning, and laundry. So, Apo Agua’s efforts to improve our water supply here in Emily Homes have really been a massive help,” Casa noted.)
Stories like Casa’s are becoming more common across Davao City. For many families, reliable water is no longer something they have to plan their day around. It has become something they can count on.
Casa’s experience reflects how reliable water services can make a meaningful difference in the daily lives of women and families. Time once spent in storing water, waiting for deliveries or worrying about supply can now be spent helping children with school, running small businesses, earning a living or enjoying more quality time as a family.
As Davao City continues to grow, reliable water has become one of the foundations of a healthier, more resilient and more inclusive community. The Davao City Bulk Water Supply Project is helping ensure that more families experience the simple but life-changing confidence of turning the tap anytime and knowing safe water will be there. It is a reminder that investments in essential infrastructure ultimately improve the everyday life of every Dabawenya.
