Residents in Panacan Relocation, Davao City are now benefitting from strong water pressure and 24/7 supply following the operation of the Davao City Bulk Water Supply Project (DCBWSP) since 2024.The project, implemented through a partnership between Apo Agua Infrastructura Inc. and the Davao City Water District (DCWD), delivers 300 million liters of treated water daily to more than one million residents in the city, according to data from DCWD.
With the additional water supply, DCWD was able to expand its service coverage in previously underserved areas of District 2. Service connections increased from 8,600 in 2022 to 21,000 in 2024- 200 percent rise in two years.
Longtime resident Jerry Dagatan, who has lived in the area since 1976, said families often experience intermittent supply that lasted two days. “Lisod kaayo sauna. Usahay maghakot pa mi… kung naa’y service. Kung wala, maghulat nalang mi kanus-a musirit ang tubig… (It was very difficult before. Sometimes we had to fetch water… if there was vehicle service. If not, we just had to wait…),” he said. Families often consumed three drums of water in two days and spent extra on drinking water.
Dagatan said conditions have changed significantly. “Karon, sa gripo na gyud tanan… Mas lami pa sa distilled water (Now, everything comes from the faucet… It’s even better than distilled water),” he shared.
In previous years, households also spent hundreds of pesos weekly on water that ran out quickly. Grace Olacao, a resident of more than five decades, recalled how families stayed awake during the early morning hours to collect water during brief periods of flow. “Sige mi ug atang alas dos hangtod alas kwatro sa kadlawon… (We used to stay up from 2 AM to 4 AM…),” she said.
Olacao said the water is now clean and consistently available. “Karon limpyo na gyud… Wa na ko nag-mineral water. Gripo na ko diretso (Now it’s really clean… I don’t buy mineral water anymore. I drink straight from the tap),” she added.
DCBWSP is currently the largest bulk water supply project in the Philippines. Apo Agua serves as the private sector partner responsible for developing the facility, while DCWD handles distribution to households across the city.
For communities like Panacan Relocation, the improved water access means families no longer need to buy mineral water or spend hundreds of pesos weekly to store water and wait for water truck deliveries. Residents say the steady supply has restored convenience and eased daily routines such as cooking, bathing, and doing laundry.
“Tubig is life gyud. Dili ta mabuhi kung wala. Sauna, kapila ka mugasto para lang makalaba o maligo. Karon, naa na gyud sa gripo. Mao gyud na ang pinakadako nga improvement sa among community. (Water really is life. We can’t survive without it. Before, you’d have to spend so much just to do laundry or take a bath. Now, it’s finally available from the faucet. That’s truly the biggest improvement in our community),” Dagatan further added.
