Students once had to carry bottles of water to school, while teachers routinely bought water gallons just to clean the comfort rooms– water access used to be a daily struggle for Cabantian Elementary School, one of the largest public schools in Davao City’s rapidly growing District 2. With over 2,000 students, maintaining basic hygiene and cleanliness was a constant challenge. Still, teachers did their best to ensure a safe and sanitary environment for their learners.
That story is now changing. With recent improvements in Davao City’s water infrastructure, especially the conjunctive use of groundwater and treated surface water from the Tamugan River– reliable water is finally reaching classrooms and comfort rooms. A 2024 Davao City Water District (DCWD) survey showed 99.6% customer satisfaction in the Cabantian area, signaling a major step forward not just for households and businesses, but also for schools working hard to provide safe and healthy learning environments.
This shift has allowed the school to implement DepEd’s Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene in Schools (WinS) program more fully. In fact, Cabantian Elementary School recently received a highest score of 3-Star validation under the national WinS implementation– a recognition of its improved sanitation practices and water access.
The school reported having 24-hour water availability, making daily handwashing and toilet cleaning finally possible. Their group handwashing facility, equipped with ten functioning faucets, now meets the standards set by WinS, which requires accessible and reliable hygiene stations to promote regular handwashing among learners– especially crucial in the post-pandemic classroom.
“We couldn’t really implement the WINS program (DepEd’s Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene in Schools) before. Our learners can’t have proper group handwashing and toothbrushing activities because we don’t have enough water,” shared Judy Omapoy, School Head of Cabantian Elementary School. “In the program, it is important for kids to practice frequent handwashing, especially after the pandemic.”
She also recalled that when she was first assigned to the school in 2022, the handwashing facilities weren’t functional: “Pag-abot nako diri in 2022, naa nay group handwashing facilities, kaso wala pa gyud nagamit kay walay tubig. But in 2023, we revived it… pinalitan at dinagdagan ang faucets, and since then, we’ve started using it regularly because we finally have reliable water access.” (When I first arrived here in 2022, there were already group handwashing facilities, however, it was not functioning because there was no water. But in 2023, we revived it… we changed and added faucets, and since then, we’ve started using it regularly because we finally have reliable water access.)
Grade 6 Teacher Paler who has taught at Cabantian ES for twenty years, added: “Usahay si bata kay dili mangihi tungod kay hugaw ang CR pero sa lower grade sa una, nakabuhat gyud mi nga nagbitbit gyud ug arinola para pagkahuman kay isa lang ka yaboan. Ingana among ginabuhat sauna. Karon, functional na gyud atong mga CR which is good gyud sa mga bata.” (Sometimes the kids wouldn’t pee because the comfort room was dirty. Back then, especially in the lower grades, we really had to bring chamber pots (arinola) so that after using them, we could just pour the waste out in one go. That’s what we used to do. Now, our comfort rooms are really functional, which is really good for the kids.)
students. With improved 24/7 water access, the school has successfully met key criteria under DepEd’s Water, Sanitation,
and Hygiene in Schools (WinS) program and recently earned a 3-Star validation for its efforts.
These wins– improved sanitation and healthier school environments– reflect a larger effort. Behind this change is the Davao City Bulk Water Supply Project (DCBWSP), a partnership between the Davao City Water District and Aboitiz InfraCapital, Inc. subsidiary Apo Agua Infrastructura, Inc., which treats up to 300 million liters of water per day from the Panigan-Tamugan Watershed.
Developed to meet Davao’s growing water needs while reducing dependence on groundwater, the DCBWSP has made it possible for communities like Cabantian to enjoy consistent, reliable water service. The improvements at Cabantian Elementary School remind us that water is more than just a utility — it’s a foundation for growth, learning, and public well-being. As we enjoy the benefits of cleaner, more reliable water today, we must also protect the source of this progress. Protecting the Panigan-Tamugan Watershed is protecting our future. When water flows, learning grows.
