FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ON

Guide for Community Organizers

WATER FOR THE WATERLESS

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ON

Guide for Community Organizers

WATER FOR THE WATERLESS

Prepared by the Asian Institute of Journalism and Communication

for the MDGF 1919 Programme March 2012

TABLE OF CONTENTS

I. Introduction.......................1

II. GeneralInformationonWater........2

III. HumanRights-BasedApproach........5

IV. MDGF-1919Programme&

SalintubigProgram..................7

V. LocalizedCustomerServiceCode.....12

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Thispocket-sizedbookletisdesignedtobeahandyguidethatwillprovideanswerstofrequently-askedquestionsregardingwaterandhumanhealth,itsconservationandprotection.Otherquestionsincludethosepertainingtothehumanrights-basedapproach,theMillenniumDevelopmentGoalFund-1919Programme(MDGF-1919)andtheSaganaatLigtasnaTubigsaLahat(Salintubig)Program,andtheLocalizedCustomerServiceCodeofwaterusersassociationsliketheBarangayWaterandSanitationAssociation(BWSA).

ThisFAQhasbeendevelopedprimarilyforfield use by community organizers, but may also serveasreferencematerialformembersofthewaterandsanitation(WATSAN)CouncilsandTeams,waterusersassociations,theparticipatingLocalGovernmentUnits(LGU)andotherinterestedpartnersinhumandevelopment.

INTRODUCTION

Frequently Asked Questions on Water for the Waterless 32General Information on Water

Q Whatissafedrinkingwaterorpotablewater?A Waterthatisfreeofmicro-organismsordisease-producingbacteria(pathogens),clearandwithoutsediments,anddoesnothaveundesirabletastes,odors,colors,levelsofradioactivity,orchemicals.

Q Ifthewaterisclear,doesitmeanthewaterissafeandclean?A Notnecessarily.Otherthanclarity,characteristicssuchastastes,odors,colorsandlevelsofradioactivityarealsousedtodetermineifwaterissafeandclean.

Q Whatistheimportanceofcleanandsafewatertous?A Watermakesup70-75percentofthebodyweightoftheaveragehumanbeing.Everycellinourbodyneedswatertolive.Waterhelpstoremovetoxinsorpoisonoussubstancesthatourbodytakesinfromtheair,thefoodweeatandthechemicalsweuseonourskinandhair.Wateralsoprovidescushionforourbodyjoints.Watercarriesoxygenandnutrientsintoallourcells.Wateralsohelpstoregulateourbodytemperature.

Q IfwehaveabundantwaterresourceshereinthePhilippines,whydowehavetoconservewater?A Likeallothernaturalresources,water is not unlimited. Water is a finite and vulnerableresource,essentialinsustaininglife,developmentandtheenvironment.Andwiththechangingclimaticconditions,ourwatersourcesareindangerofdryingupparticularlyduringextremedryseasons,andshouldbemanagedforthecommongood.

54 Frequently Asked Questions on Water for the Waterless

Q Howdowaterandsanitationaffecthumanhealth?A Poorsanitationcontaminateswatersourcesthatmayleadtodiarrheaandotherwater-bornediseasesandthatmayinturnresulttodeathsifnotgivenpropermedicationandcare.

Q Whatareexamplesofpoorsanitationpractices?A Examplesofpoorsanitationpracticesincludeimproperwashingofthehands,open defecation, “flying saucer” method, defecationincanalsandbodiesofwater,defecationinopenpits,andimproperdisposalofbackyardlivestockwaste.

Q Whymustweprotectourwatersources?A Wemustprotectourwatersourcesforourhealthandsafety.Ifwedon’t,wewillbeatriskofgettingdiarrheaandotherwater-bornediseasesWealsomustprotectourwatersourcestoensurethatwaterwillstillbeavailableinthefuture.

Human Rights-Based Approach

Q Whatistherighttowater?A ItistherightofeveryFilipinowoman,manandchildtoclean,safeandaffordablewater.

Q Ifitisourrighttohaveclean,safeandaffordablewater,whydowehavetopay?A Whilewateriseveryperson’sright,thefacilitiesandservicesthatmakewateraccessibleentailessentialcost.Forexample,expensesformaintainingthewatersystemincludepartsreplacement.Costforservicesincludeshonorariumfortheplumberorthepersonlookingafterthewaterfacility.Thisiswhatyoupayforasconsumersofwater.

76 Frequently Asked Questions on Water for the Waterless

Also,payingthewatertariffallows government to promote, protect and fulfill therighttowaterwithoutdiscriminatingagainstanysectorofsociety.

Q Whatotherrightsdewehave?A 1.Righttodeterminethetypeofwaterandsanitationservicesrequiredandthemannertheseservicesshouldbemanaged.2.Righttobeheardandconsultedonwatertariffandothermattersthathaveimpactonourwelfare.3.Righttoinformationortherighttoseek,receiveandimpartinformationonwaterandsanitationissues.4.Righttoparticipateortherighttotakepartintheconductofpublicaffairsandculturallife.5.Righttoaccessserviceprovidedbygovernmentwithoutdiscrimination.6.Righttopeacefulassemblyandassociationortherighttoengageinconcertedandpeacefulactionsandtherighttogettogetherwithothersforacommoncause,withoutinterference.

7.Rightofreparationortherighttoseekredressforaviolationofaright.

MDGF-1919 Programme & Salintubig Program

Q WhatistheGovernmentdoingtoaddressourwatersituation?AOurGovernmentiscurrentlyundertakingtheMillenniumDevelopmentGoalFund-1919Programme(MDGF-1919)andSaganaatLigtasnaTubigsaLahat(Salintubig)Programtoprovidewatersupplysystemsforthe

98 Frequently Asked Questions on Water for the Waterless

waterlessmunicipalitiesandenhancethecapacityoftheLGUsandwaterserviceprovidersinthemanagementofwatersupplyfacilities.

Q Whatisthemeaningofthenumber ”1919” in the MDGF-1919 Program?A Thenumber1919standsforthenumberoftheprogramproposalapprovedbytheUnitedNationsGeneralAssembly.

Q Whenaretheseprogramsimplemented?A ForMDGF-1919,from2009to2012.ForSalintubig,from2010to2015.

Q Whatisthecoverageoftheseprograms?A Theprogramscoverall455waterlessmunicipalities.In2011,theProgramcovered115waterlessmunicipalitiesincluding36coveredbyMDGF-1919.For2012,theProgramwillcover135.

Q Whatarewaterlessmunicipalities?A Waterlessmunicipalitiesrefertothosemunicipalitieswherelessthanhalfofthepopulationhaveaccesstocleanandsafewater.

Q Whoaretheparticipantsintheseprograms?A DepartmentofInteriorandLocalGovernment(DILG),DepartmentofHealth(DOH),NationalAnti-PovertyCommission(NAPC),LocalGovernmentUnits(LGU),MunicipalWaterandSanitation(WATSAN)CouncilsandTeams,localwaterusersassociationsliketheBarangayWaterandSanitationAssociation(BWSA),waterserviceproviders(WSP),andthewaterlesscommunities.

1110 Frequently Asked Questions on Water for the Waterless

Q Whatarethemajoractivitiesundertheseprograms?A Infrastructuredevelopmentandcapacitybuilding.

Q Whatarethedifferentlevelsofwatersupplyfacilitiescoveredunderinfrastructuredevelopment?ALevel1includesspring,opendugwell,handpumpsandrivers.Level2referstocommunaltapstandsandfaucets.AndLevel3coversallpipedconnectionstoindividualhouseholds.

Q Whatisinvolvedininfrastructuredevelopment?A 1.Rehabilitation,expansionorupgradingofLevel3facilities,includingwatertreatmentsystems2.ConstructionofLevel2facilities,includingwatertreatmentsystems3.ConstructionandrehabilitationofLevel1facilitiesinareaswhereonlythesesystemsarefeasible4.Supportfornewandinnovativetechnologiesforwatersupplydeliveryandsanitationsystems

Q Whatisinvolvedincapacitybuilding?A 1.TrainingforexistingWATSANCouncilsandnewlyorganizedwaterusersassociationsandcommunity-basedorganizations2.Mentoring,coachingandothercapacitydevelopmentassistancetoLGUsonplanning,implementationandmanagementofwatersupplyandsanitationprojects3.FormationofWATSANDevelopmentCouncilandwaterusersassociations

Q WhatareWATSANCouncilsandTeams?A TheMunicipalWATSANCouncilistheoverseeingandpolicy-makingbodyonwaterandsanitationconcernsandisheadedbythemayor.TheWATSANTeamistheimplementingarmoftheCouncil.

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Localized Customer Service Code

Q WhatistheLocalizedCustomerServiceCode(LCSC)?A TheLCSCisadocumentthatservesasabindingsocialcontractandagreementbetweenthewaterusersassociationliketheBWSAanditsmembersfortheprovisionofwater service to its members. The Code reflects theaspirationsoftheassociation,therolesandresponsibilitiesoftheconcernedpartiesandotherprovisionsadoptedbytheassociation.

QHowwastheCodeformulated?A The officers of the water usersassociation,togetherwiththeMunicipalWATSANteam,initiallyworkedfromadraftpreparedbytheNationalWaterResourcesBoard(NWRB). They finalized the draft, based on the local situationoftheirbarangay.This localized version was then ratified bymembersoftheassociation.

QWhatisthepurposeoftheCode?A TheCodeservesastheguideoftheassociationinoperatingandmanagingthewatersystem.

QWhatarewaterusersassociationsandBWSA?A Awaterusersassociation(WUA)isanorganizationthatprimarilyoperatesandmaintainsthecommunity’swaterfacility.TheWUAmaybeacooperativeoranassociationofwaterusers.TheBWSA,ortheBarangayWaterandSanitationAssociation,isonesuchorganization.

QWhatarethedutiesofmembersofwaterusersassociations?A Everymembershallcomplywithallpoliciesandrulesoftheassociation. Specifically, each member shall:1.Payhis/herbillontime;2.Attendandparticipateinmeetingsandsupportactivitiesoftheassociation;

Frequently Asked Questions on Water for the Waterless 13

providefeedbackandmakesuggestionsinordertoimprovewaterservice;3.Seetoitthatthecommunalfaucet/tapstandiswellmaintainedandprotected;4.Allowauthorizedstaffoftheassociationtoperformnecessaryrepairsinthecommunalfaucet/tapstand,piping,andreservoirandwatertub;5.Preventwastewaterofanynature,andseetoitthatthedischargeofanywastewatershallbedisposedofinsuchamannerthatitwillnotcompromisethehealthandsafetyofthecommunity.6.Monitortheoperationsandmaintenanceofthewatersystem;and7.Providefeedbackandsuggestionstoimprovewaterservices.

Frequently Asked Questions on Water for the Waterless

QWhodetermineshowmuchwatertariffshallbecharged?A Theassociationdeterminesthewatertariff,inconsultationwiththemembers.

Q Who are the officers of the association?A President,vicepresident,secretary, treasurer, and auditor. The officers may varyamongthewaterusersassociations.

Q How are officers elected?A Officers are elected in a general assembly everyonetothreeyears,dependingontheassociation.Electivepositionsareopenequallytomenandwomen.

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