For years, residents of Purok Maligaya and Purok Mabuhay in Barangay Napsan in the City of Puerto Princesa, Palawan struggled daily just to access clean water.

Families had to carry buckets from distant sitios and rely on unsafe water sources, often leading to disagreements among residents over limited water supply.

“Noong time na doon sa baba, nag-aaway-away kami dahil sa tubig, kasi dito sa kabila, kapag umaga, amin, kabila naman sa gabi. Eh minsan, hindi pa siya inabot ng hapon, kinukuha na ng kabila kaya nag-aaway-away,” Anna Joy Gajesan, a local resident, shared.

Today, however, clean and safe water flows through the two communities following the completion of two units of Level II Gravity Fed Water Supply Systems under the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD) Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan-Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (KALAHI-CIDSS) program.

The potable water project, worth Php1,969,399, was implemented from Sept.8-Oct 25, 2025 and has since transformed the lives of residents in the two puroks.

For Barangay Napsan Punong Barangay (PB) Gerry Acosta, the project addressed the community’s most urgent need.

“Iyon po ang talagang need, o mas priority na pangangailangan ng amin pong dalawang purok. Nakikita po namin sa mga residente, hirap po silang magtimba-timba papunta at galing pa doon sa ibang sitio, doon kasi po nag-iigib,” PB Acosta told the DSWD’s Kwento ng Pag-asa at Pagbabago (KPaP) team.

Barangay Kagawad Herminigilda Eleazar echoed the same sentiment, saying the lack of water had long been a burden for residents.

“Talagang noong una po at napakahirap doon ng tubig, wala po talaga silang napagkukunan kaya po noong lumapit ang KALAHI-CIDSS sa amin ay iyon po ang unang hiniling namin na magkaroon sila ng source ng tubig,” Kagawad Eleazar said.

The barangay officials expressed gratitude to President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., the DSWD, and KALAHI-CIDSS for bringing the project to their community.

“Nais ko pong magpasalamat sa atin pong minamahal na Pangulo ng Republika ng Pilipinas, Pangulong Bongbong Marcos, sa pagbibigay ng pagmamahal o atensyon dito po sa project na kung saan marami po ang nakikinabang na amin pong mga kabarangay dito po sa Barangay Napsan, Lungsod ng Puerto Princesa, at naturalmente sa atin pong mga ka-partner na mga mapagkalingang taga-DSWD. Walang hanggang pasasalamat sa atin pong minamahal na KALAHI-CIDSS,” PB Acosta told KPaP.

Beyond access to clean water, the project also empowered residents by equipping them with new skills and strengthening community participation.

According to volunteer Jenevie Canete, women in the community were even trained by the local water district on how to install water connections.

“Malaking tulong po talaga na nagkaroon ng KALAHI, kahit papaano po maraming seminars, training na kahit babae ay tinuruan kami ng sa water district na magkabit ng tubig. Grabeng tuwa po namin sa KALAHI, sa DSWD po na kung sa panaginip nga po parang hindi ka talaga makapaniwala na libre pa ang training namin,” Canete shared.

In Purok Mabuhay, volunteer Jonarose Rivera noted that while the area had abundant water sources, the water remained unsafe because there was no proper filtration system before the project.

“Mayaman tayo sa tubig, kaya lang unsafe sa mga taong nakadepende sa ilog na ito dahil walang maayos na filter,” Jonarose said.

According to Jonarose, the project not only delivered clean water but also united the community.

“Noong nagkaroon ng simulain ang proyektong ito, nagkaroon ng unity ang bawat isa dito sa amin. Lahat ng tumulong, tumulong talaga ng kusang-loob. Walang nag-hindi, walang napagod, walang nagreklamo, lahat tulong, bakit? Ang pinasasalamatan nila, sa kauna-unahang lugar dito sa Puerto Princesa, first time na magkaroon ang Napsan ng malinis na tubig,” Jonarose said.

From relying on makeshift water access systems, residents today no longer need to walk long distances or compete for limited water just to meet their daily needs.

Through the KALAHI-CIDSS, Barangay Napsan received more than just infrastructure support; it gained hope, dignity, and a renewed sense of unity for communities that had long dreamed of a better life.

#KPAP is DSWD’s award-winning online documentary, produced by the Traditional Media Service (TMS) and the Digital Media Service (DMS) under the Strategic Communications Group. It is hosted by Information Officer Bianca Piedad-Tamondong and airs every Tuesday over DSWD’s official Facebook and YouTube pages. (CC)