PEF, Coke Foundation sign water project for Mindanao

PEF Executive Director Roberto Calingo and CCFPI Executive Director Cecil Alcantara signed the memorandum of understanding together with PEF Partnership and Programs Manager Dennis Omar Salvo and CCFPI Program Officer Monina Pacheco. (With additional report from Rhoderick Beñez.)

SULTAN KUDARAT – The Peace and Equity Foundation (PEF) and Coca-cola Foundation Philippines Inc. (CCFPI) signed a new partnership agreement to boost water supply for thousands of villagers in three project sites in Mindanao.

The second phase of the Scaling Up Program for Social Enterprises on Water Services or SCALE UP Water will provide residents of Kalamansig and Lebak towns in Sultan Kudarat, and Bansalan in Davao del Sur with potable water through a grant of P12.7 million.

Amaris Cabason, PEF program officer, said the next phase will bank on the success of its first phase, which brought water supply to 13,000 individuals in different municipalities across the country. “Before the program, households had to fetch their own water from open sources or hand pumps or buy water at high prices. Through the SCALE UP Water program, these households now have access to safe and affordable water,” she said.

From 2016-2018, PEF and CCFPI provided P22 million worth of grants to local water cooperatives for six water projects in South Cotabato, Davao, Cebu, and Surigao. These cooperatives developed new water sources, supplied water to their existing service area, accepted new applications for connection, and equipped their members on how to sustain the project. (Rhoderick Beñez)