Community Action
Water Supply - The Very First Essential To Life

To describe the importance of water to life, as a Clinician let me explain it to you. Water is the most abundant nutrient in our body and plays an important transmission function in every body cell and tissue. The fact that we are made up of trillions of cells, our existence depends so much on water. Sixty percent (60%) of our body weight is water. The truth of the matter is that "you can live without food for a long period of time, but live only for a few days without water." Under normal conditions, the body releases about one quart of water daily. Therefore, replacement to equal the losses is very important for survival. With the help of other nutrients (Carbohydrates, Proteins, Fats, Vitamins and Minerals), the body has the ability to keep its balancing mechanism constant through the process of intake and output.

Water comes from different sources. Most foods contain water in its original form. An additional amount of water is produced after the process of digestion and oxidation (breakdown) of food takes place. In order to maintain normal body temperature, water as the body’s climate-control system, is released through sweat when the body temperature rises or heat is produced. The brain and kidneys manage the water balance. The hormones on the other hand, perform their roles as messengers in order to complete the process of elimination and replacement. If these losses are not replaced, dehydration occurs which then ultimately results in death, if not corrected immediately. Body water is lost through the stomach, respiration, sweat, and the kidneys. Water is also lost through breathing or respiration during exercise and also through weight loss. What should you do to maintain water balance in your body in order to live? You should replace water losses immediately.

Because water is essential to life, its availability and access is a mandated agenda that must be provided to all humans and living things. The enormous challenge for the thousands of Filipinos in Oroquieta City and the whole province of Misamis Occidental is clean and sustainable water supply. With reasonable arguments we can again, trace the water supply problem to the Country's economy. However, because water is the basic essential to life, it should be placed as the main theme of the country government's top developmental agenda. Although some actions were done to try to improve the water supply in Oroquieta City and our province, the progress is still very slow. Unfortunately, for thousands of Filipinos in Oroquieta City and its surrounding areas, slow progress is not acceptable. This is because more than a hundred people may still die every year from many preventable water-related diseases. Therefore, acting as one voice for our Filipino brothers and sisters (back home), we will work on this proactive approach to raise this issue to challenge our governments. As a whole, we will seek to foster many different approaches that are people-centered to promote a government-based implementation.

Addressing the international issues of water supply, the international community through its United Nations (UN) General Assembly, is working on its initiatives geared for the year 2003 - as the International Year of Freshwater. Through its close cooperation with the Department of Economic and Social Affairs, the UN Council's theme is focusing on sanitation and safety starting from the top to the grassroots approach of community-based mainstream. Such action is aimed in mobilizing political support around the globe so as to end the sufferings of more than 1.1 billion people who has no access to safe and affordable water supply. A big chunk of that population are Filipinos. On behalf of our Filipino brothers and sisters in Oroquieta City and the province of Misamis Occidental, we will push for our political leaders to act as the functional catalysts on this important issue - clean and safe water supply.

In looking a generation ahead, the Oroquieta City Local Government Unit (LGU) has been, for several years, proactively working to establish the kind of safe and hygienic essential basics for the community beyond the year 2000. Given the empowerment, technical and financial support from the National Government Organization (NGO), the LGU could and would willingly manage the process of change. However, because of the entangled monopolized political cobwebs, the LGUs hands are tied.

The problem of Oroquieta City's water supply has been going on for many years. Because I am not familiar with the situation, I conducted phone interviews of many Oroquietanians who I believed could shed me good insight on this issue. For the main part, the City's water supply system is operated by the Board of Directors of the Misamis Occidental Water District (MOWD). The MOWD facility is located in Ozamiz City. Fifty (50) years ago, water pipes were laid underground to facilitate the water supply. Through the years the water supply was frequently interrupted due to problematic water pumps which "bogged down" the water pressure. This resulted in diminished flow of water into the faucets of many Oroquietanian homes, particularly in elevated areas (such as Lower Lamac), and farther Barangays (such as Canubay, Mobod), and many others.

One source of the water supply is the Layawan River, however, the filtration gallery is now antiquated, and thus, becoming less functional. For this reason, this water supply is becoming unsafe for drinking. Many complaints were elevated to the MOWD authorities, however (according to sources), nothing was done to correct these deficiencies. The Sangguniang Panglungsod of Oroquieta City passed several resolutions for the MOWD to take positive actions to correct such problems, but to no avail. As a last resort, the Oroquieta City Government has been trying (for 10 years now) to negotiate with the MOWD in an attempt to take control of the water system. However, that action was again denied by the MOWD authorities. Then several months ago, the MOWD Board of Directors have finally agreed to relinquish control of the City's water supply, however, under strict conditions that the City Government will pay for the debt incurred by MOWD resulting from the infrastructure costs (equipment and facilities) amounting to Thirty Million Pesos.

The Oroquieta City Government has initially agreed to pay. However, because the City Government could not produce the total amount immediately, additional time was requested so that the City could work out on the mechanics and mode of payment. Then as recently as September 2002, the City Government was given an ultimatum by the MOWD to pay the required amount by October 2002, otherwise, the City Government will never be allowed to take control of its own water system. The Bandala Administration is continuing to negotiate the MOWD's ultimatum so that the City could pay their demands without prejudicing the City's finances, ongoing programs and projects.

We, the voice of Oroquieta City must address our sentiments towards MOWD authorities. First, their building facility is located in Ozamiz City (not Oroquieta City) as a result from a bid. Secondly, why should Oroquieta City pay the full amount incurred by MOWDs water supply project when in fact, that project was purposedly done not solely for Oroquieta City's water supply, but for the whole province of Misamis Occidental. Therefore, Oroquieta City should only pay for their share/chunk cost of the infrastructure for the Oroquieta City's water supply only. The rest of the debt must be evenly collected from each town/city who benefited or could benefit from such project. Looking through the Oroquieta City Government's "behavior," we can say that Oroquieta City has extended its kind hands way across its boundary just so we can accommodate progress that Oroquieta so duly deserves.

The MOWD's precarious existence is supervised by a national agency called Local Waterworks Utility Administration (LWUA). For that reason, the Oroquieta City's several attempts to acquire its own water system were hastened. The MOWD's franchise to operate the water system in Oroquieta City gave them the strong advantage to say "yeah or nay" on the transfer/release of the said franchise to our beloved City without strings attached. As already known, the problem with this organizational entity is their "very poor" service which many Oroquietanians believed as the result of "monopoly." By this token, the City Administration becomes helpless to act and thus, always take the "punching" blame.

An important issue correlating between the safety of water supply and health hazards must also be addressed. According to reports when water pipelines were replaced, the quality of materials being used might have a questionable long-term impact on the community's health. Many sources have indicated that the replacement pipelines were made from Asbestos-cement pipes. Although approved by the Philippine standards, Asbestos has been linked to certain types of cancer in humans. It is important to educate the public interest on this matter so as to prevent the potential incidence of this debilitating disease that might plague our City's future generation.

Severals years ago, a deep well was drilled next to the main water tank in the Villaflor area in which pipelines were installed in support for Oroquieta City's water system. Although this well is already fully functional, its capacity is not enough to reach Barangay Mobod and other areas. It was the water pump of this deep well that bogged down causing no water flow for as long as 2 or 3 weeks. When this problem took place, the water from the river source was only enough to reach very low level areas. In addition, during flood season, the Layawan river produces turbid waters halting the entire City water supply. Until recently this problem is ongoing.

If only total control of the City's water supply is sufficed, the City Government has great plans for immediate improvements. The existing water facilities and infrastructures will be improved by changing many non-functional pipelines (including more importantly, Asbestos-cement pipes). The changing of the water pipes will be done phase by phase so that the water supply to the consumer and water hydrants will not be unduly compromised. Additional water sources will be made so that constant potable water is abundantly available "24/7" (24 hours a day, 7 days a week). the water from the river that flows but only good for those on very low level. When ;

To sump up Oroquieta City's current water dilemma, many Oroquietanians have opted to dig their own wells where they can feel safe. However, we must also understand that because the population growth in Oroquieta City is consistent, this practice would also cause an adverse impact on the earth's ability to provide its natural water supply. Have you ever seen a well getting dry? You can continue to pump and pump water, but when it is completely dry - what will come up next is the earth's surface. That's when you realize how important it is to save our natural resources.

With one voice, we need to mobilize everyone's energy and commitment through empowerment measures to create a dynamic people-centred action so that Oroquietanians can have total control of their own destiny. Because the country's Government retains the crucial role of setting standards and protecting public health, we must reinforce it by releasing the people's initiatives for the betterment of Oroquieta City. Improving the lifestyles and livelihoods of our brothers and sisters (back home) require the mechanics of water supply, sanitation and hygiene. The correlation between poverty and lack of sanitation services can be corrected by formulating a process whereby access to basic services can link to the improvement of human lives. We need to aim at ensuring that every household in Oroquieta City will have access to clean and safe water supply. Through our grassroot efforts, we can facilitate the City needs by petitioning our local and national leaders for immediate corrective action.

By: Ofelia B. Mutia, M.S., R.D., L.D.
Registered/Licensed Dietitian &
Clinical Nutritionist