The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has received a crucial donation of 10 portable water filtration kits from the humanitarian organization Waves For Water (W4W). On Tuesday, June 18, DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian graciously accepted the donation from W4W’s Executive Director Megan Manzano and Operations and Programs Management Officer Sarah Dimalaluan at the DSWD Central Office in Quezon City.
These state-of-the-art kits, which feature 0.2 micron filters, are adept at removing dangerous bacteria such as cholera, salmonella, E. coli, and coliform. The donation includes all necessary components for immediate use: a bucket adapter filter assembly, drill bit, filter hanger, cleaning plunger, and instructional materials. The kits are designed for quick deployment in evacuation centers or communities where water sources are compromised due to natural disasters.
Witnessing the donation were DSWD Assistant Secretary for Community Engagement Ulysses Hermogenes Aguilar and Special Assistant to the Secretary (SAS) for Disaster Response and Management Group (DRMG) Leo Quintilla, who is also the Officer-in-Charge (OIC) of the National Resource and Logistics Management Bureau (NRLMB).
Waves For Water has been instrumental in providing clean water solutions globally. Founded by Jon Rose in 2009, W4W has implemented 155 clean water programs in over 45 countries and responded to 33 major natural disasters, aiding approximately 3.75 million individuals.
In the Philippines, W4W’s contributions have been significant, reaching across 56 provinces with the construction of 66 rainwater catchment systems and enhancing the lives of over a million Filipinos through improved access to clean water. This generous donation by W4W will bolster DSWD’s disaster response efforts and ensure that Filipino communities have access to safe drinking water in times of crisis.