09/07/2026
| ๐๐๐๐ ๐ฐ๐๐ญ๐๐ซ ๐๐๐๐๐ฌ๐ฌ ๐ฆ๐จ๐ฏ๐๐ฌ ๐๐ฅ๐จ๐ฌ๐๐ซ ๐๐จ๐ซ ๐๐๐ฆ๐ฎ๐ญ ๐๐จ๐ฆ๐ฆ๐ฎ๐ง๐ข๐ญ๐ข๐๐ฌ ๐๐ฌ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ง๐๐จ๐ซ๐ฌ๐๐ฌ ๐๐ก๐ฉ๐๐-๐ ๐ฐ๐๐ญ๐๐ซ ๐ฉ๐ซ๐จ๐ฃ๐๐๐ญ
More than 1,700 households across eight barangays in Lamut, Ifugao are set to gain access to safe and reliable water following the Cordillera Regional Project Advisory Boardโs (RPAB) endorsement of a Php54.53-million Level II Potable Water System (PWS) for funding under the Department of Agriculture-Philippine Rural Development Project (DA-PRDP) Scale-Up.
Despite the presence of existing waterworks systems in parts of Ifugao, many communities continue to experience inadequate access to potable water. Residents often rely on communal faucets supplied by developed natural springs, shallow wells, private water refilling stations, or vendors selling water from unverified sourcesโconditions that increase the risk of waterborne diseases and place additional financial and physical burdens on households.
Once completed, the proposed PWS will directly benefit 1,701 households, including 150 institutional households, across eight barangays in Lamut: Bimpal, Holowan, Lucban, Magulon, Nayon, Panopdopan, Pugol, and Salamague.
The subproject is expected to provide 100% access to potable water for its target beneficiaries. It will also reduce the average time spent fetching water from 17 minutes to only five minutes through the establishment of strategically located tap stands. In addition, the improved access to safe drinking water is projected to decrease household medical expenses related to waterborne diseases by an average of 80%.
Water for the system will be sourced from seven protected springs and three deep wells, all of which have passed bacteriological testing. The project includes the construction of six spring boxes, five intake tanks, two pressure breaker tanks, 10 reservoirs, and 381 tap stands to ensure the efficient distribution of water to beneficiary communities. To address the challenging terrain in some barangays, the system design also incorporates elevated tanks and solar-powered pumps to efficiently deliver water from the deep wells to higher-lying communities.
To date, DA-PRDP Scale-Up has supported two PWS subprojects in Ifugao, the Lagawe Level II PWS and the Asipulo Level II PWS. The Asipulo PWS has already been completed, while the Lagawe PWS has reached 38% physical progress as of June 15, 2026.
Expressing his appreciation to the members of the RPAB, Ifugao Governor Jerry U. Dalipog reaffirmed the provincial government's commitment to ensuring the successful implementation and long-term sustainability of the subproject.
โI commit myself to ensuring the proper implementation of the subproject until its completion and turnover, and to overseeing its operations and maintenance until these responsibilities are transferred to the water district,โ Governor Dalipog said.
Following the board's endorsement, the proposed PWS will proceed to the issuance of a No Objection Letter (NOL) 1, a key requirement before advancing to the succeeding stages of the DA-PRDP Scale-Up approval process. The Cordillera RPAB, chaired by DA-CAR Regional Executive Director Atty. Jennilyn M. Dawayan, serves as the project's regional policy-making and advisory body responsible for reviewing and endorsing eligible subprojects for DA-PRDP funding.
Current RPAB members include representatives from the regional offices of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR), National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP), DA-Regional Agricultural and Fisheries Council (RAFC), Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), and Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH). # # # Elvy T. Estacio (RPCO CAR InfoACE Unit)
