Hola, peeps. How are you?
Are you still up to opening another page of this book?
It may sound cliché to you, but yes! I'm back for another and perhaps the last entry about this series.
I just realized that I do not have a proper and consistent name for this series, but if you do remember, for the past blog entries, I wrote about the survey I conducted to the San Jose del Monte Heights residents about the issue they wanted to be addressed. In my previous blog postings. I first make a call to action by telling a story from the view of San Jose del Monte Heights residents and then from the perspective of a community official.
Now we're down to the last page of this series!
Welcome yourselves to the real deal, as we will open the story about the most prominent issue in San Jose del Monte Heights— The Lack of Water Access.
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Can you imagine yourself living for a day with just limited water? Can you imagine taking a bath and washing while limiting yourself to water usage? Just imagine the everyday dilemma of San Jose del Monte Heights residents.
Last March 29, I wrote a blog survey, and I found out that out of 14 responses I got from random residents of San Jose del Monte Heights, it was the issue of the water shortage or lack of consistent water access and water line that is the most mentioned with six responses.
The respondents consistently complain that the scheduled water consumption is what makes their everyday lives difficult.
Here are some complaints I received.
"Walang tubig diba. Meron [man] madumi, minsan may ano na lumot. Tuwing umaga lang. Alas diyes wala na. Parang, minsan tatlong oras lang. Ngayon tatlong oras nalang ah. Pagdating ng alas otso, alas onse, wala na, alas dose wala na. Walang tubig sa gabi [...] Importante iyong tubig.", a resident from Phase 1 said.
"Noon kasing hawak pa ng water district ang tubig, hindi naman nawawalan ng tubig ang Heights, simula nang malipat sa Prime water saka nag-umpisa ang problema sa tubig. Bakit kailangang patayin ang tangke natin ng tubig? Sa pagkakaalam ko kasi kaya itinayo iyan ay para sa maayos na supply ng tubig pero ngayon wala na ring silbi", said by a resident from Phase 2 ext.
"6:30 am ganon magsisimula tapos mawawala na. Katulad kahapon, ala una lang kaya kadalasan nawawala bandang alas sais. Diba mas mahaba pa yung pagkawala kaysa yung pagkabalik. ", same sentiments shared by a resident from Phase 3B.
This dilemma, according to them, only started almost three years ago during the peak of the pandemic. Aside from the problem they got from the scheduled water consumption, some San Jose del Monte Heights areas do not even have access to water lines although they have already resided in that area for years, specifically in the Expansion 1 and 2 areas.
"Sa tubig, halos wala namang problema dahil nga lahat naman sila ay may metro except the expansion 1 and 2, pero on-going na." this is the response of the community's HOA President regarding the issue.
I observed these areas as I was looking for something to interview, and indeed, people are struggling to have access to water. I also found these gallons in front of the houses with water lines.
I had been under the opinion that most people were complaining about the water schedules, yet folks in certain places don't have access to water at all. I can't imagine how difficult it must be for them to collect liters of water every day and allot a budget for it. The price changes even depending on the gallon size.
Consider the battle during the height of the pandemic too.
I just want to add a backstory: those gallons are not yet filled, and they are only in the line because by that time, around 5 p.m., the water from that area is already gone; that is why they just left those gallons to ensure that they are first in line by tomorrow, among others.
Areas in the community also have different water schedules according to citizens.
Phase 1- 6am to 9am ; 7am to 4pm
Phase 2A- 5 or 6am to 2pm or until 6pm
Phase2B- 5:30am to 4pm
Phase2ext.- 6am to 2pm
Phase3- 6:30am to 1 or 2pm
The schedules vary but what's consistent is that the community doesn't have water at night.
Maybe you are wondering, given the years the problem existed, wasn't it addressed?
Actually, it was already covered by News 5 last January 5, 2021, but it remains unsolved.
There's even an argued claim in that report. It was mentioned there that the city's growing population caused the problem, hence why water outages are normal, which the community residents disagreed with.
Here are some of the resident's arguments.
I also tried to interview Kag. Edgar Celis, a barangay kagawad for 11 years, about their response to this issue or if they are even aware.
" Ang alam ko nga kaya pinasok nila yung partnership na iyon (partnership with Primewater) para maimprove yung distibution ng tubig. Ngunit sa paglipas ng panahon, yun nga at iyon pa rin ang reklamo ng mga residente partikular San Jose Heights.
According to him, the barangay is well-aware of the issue. However, they do not have a say on this matter but to just address the problem being experienced by the residents to Prime water.
IGG. EDGAR E. CELIS - BRGY.MUZON KAGAWAD
"Pinasok nila yung venture na iyon e, partnership ng local water district at tsaka yung prime water. Hindi kayang i-finance ni water district di-umano ang ilang mga repair para sa mga improvement dahil ang San Jose del Monte ay hindi na kamuha nung dati. so tayo ngayon ay halos maabot na ang population. Dati kasi kayang kaya pa ng water district supply-an." the reason mentioned in the news5 report was also highlighted.
"Kami naman kasi sa barangay ay wala naman kaming magagawa niyan kasi partnership na nga iyang venture na iyan. Ang tanging magagawa nalang namin diyan ay ihatid yung karaingan ng aming mamamayan. Halimbawa kapag walang tubig dito, talagang ipinaparating namin sa water district na yung San Jose Heights ay wala na namang tubig. So, sa kanila naman sinasagot naman nila na aaksyunan nila siguro ganon. Ang sa amin ay ihatid lang ang karaingan ng mga kabarangay. Lalo na sa brgy. talagang wala kaming ano diyan magagawa diyan sa primewater kundi sabihin ang kanilang pagkukulang, sabihin ang ating nararanasan . kasi ako mismo nararanasan ko e talagang kailangan i-improve nila siguro. Ang city council ang may higit na magagawa." he concluded.
I wasn't able to address this issue to Prime water given that I do not have any authorization to do so. Similarly, News5 does not have the opportunity to obtain Primewater's response to this matter as well because they don't respond to phone calls. That's why I tried to reach for a Brgy. instead, to which they replied and assured that all concerns would be raised with Prime Water.
To end this entry, I must say that this is an undeniably significant problem, and residents who need water supply used for household and sanitation are struggling. Their only solution is to queue for hours for a gallon of water.
Most people walk and fetch water to which not a drop should be wasted.
This is the reality. Not all are indeed accessible and convenient for everyone.
The barangay has had its say. To fully address this issue, not just them but the Prime water and the water district must participate. Nevertheless, it is inevitable to experience because our resources are finite.
I just want to encourage you that we must continue to be cautious of our water consumption as consumers. We may have limited access to water by now, but that may change; if it is mismanaged, we will suffer even more.
Water=life
Conservation=Future
This concludes this series. I'm pleased you've reached this part.
Have a nice day, peeps!
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