SDG 6: Clean Water & Sanitation

In the pursuit of protecting the health and well-being of the neighboring community of the University, its School of Interdisciplinary Studies conducted and implemented an extension project entitled Water Sanitation Project (WASAP) in Barangay Luinab, lligan City. WASAP is an interdisciplinary community extension project of faculty from the different Colleges in the Institute. Through the WASAP initiative, the role of the University as community partner of the LGU Iligan is manifested by providing informed data (through research) and in coming up with policy recommendations or other intervention initiatives (through MSU-IIT’s community extension WE CARE Framework) to benefit the Luinab Constituents. Prior to the conduct of such project, the University has already concluded a “Water Dialogue” with the Local Government of Iligan City. 

The dialogue includes the issue regarding the problematic water access and distribution in Iligan City. Water shortage in Iligan City can be felt by Barangay Bagong Silang, Hinaplanon, Tipanoy, Palao, and Luinab that are mostly lacking level III water connections from ICWS. Moreover, 8 out of 19 puroks have communal water sources like poso/manual jetmatic pumps, along with one spring resource. Among these pumped water/spring water facilities, at least 3 are alternatively used as sources for drinking water; three (3) wells were contaminated by e. Coli pathogens. 

The University, through WE CARE, collaborated with the Iligan City Local Government Unit in advancing the City’s goal of “Securing Iligan City’s Water, Improving Lives of Iliganons”. One of the highlights is the conduct of a two-day Water Dialogue, which convened multi-sectoral stakeholders, including the Isabela City Water District (ISAWAD), to address the perennial problem of water scarcity and find an immediate solution to the problem. 

Bridging leadership is used as a framework for the dialogue. They used a multi-sectoral approach in addressing the issue of water by not relying on the local government unit but by gathering the input of the people. During the meeting, ISAWAD presented the current water outlook for the city, considering adverse climate realities such as the ‘below normal’ actual rainfall vis-a-vis ‘near normal’ forecasts” by the Department of Science and Technology-Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (DOST-Pagasa).