Written By Bryan Arquiza, Writer, Operation Blessing Philippines
NEW KAWAYAN, TACLOBAN CITY – “Please extend my heartfelt thanks to those who donated this water well to our community!” Divina Bahinting, 42, said with a grin on her face.
“Because of this, we no longer have to walk at least an hour to fetch water,” she added while tapping the back of the Operation Blessing staff she was talking to.
Divina was one of the residents from Barangay 88 who were relocated to a temporary shelter in New Kawayan, northern part of Tacloban City, a year after Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan), which almost wiped out the entire Visayas.
After the storm, water became a major concern. With few accessible wells, Divina, her husband and their two older sons had to walk far just to get water. They would do this almost every day, carrying their own pails, trekking back and forth for two hours on a dirt road to fill their family’s water drum. But, most of the time, it was not enough to cover the need of her family.
With a family of seven, acquiring water for their every day consumption was indeed a struggle for Divina.
“Every day, we have to leave early in the morning for us to be able to fill our drum. If we leave our house late, our supply for the day wouldn’t be enough,” said Divina.
“It is really time consuming. Fetching water eats up most of my time every day and because of that, I can’t fulfill my other tasks as a mother,” she added.
Thanks to your help, Operation Blessing was able to provide their community, with 45 families (215 individuals), an artesian well that will supply them with clean and safe drinking water.
During the turn-over, Divina was teary-eyed. She could not contain the joy as she saw the water gushing through their brand new well.
“It is such a relief! It is as if my burden was lifted. Thanks to those who provided this well. Because of this, we don’t have to walk for hours anymore for we now have access to clean water right next to our homes,” said an ecstatic Divina.
BE A CONDUIT OF GOD’S BLESSING!
With your monthly support, OB will continue to touch more lives this year through its Water and Sanitation Program (WATSAN), by building communal toilets and water wells in places that are deprived of safe and clean water. Call us at these numbers: 477 7802 to 04 and 06/ 0939.9215543/ 0922.8036922/ 0917.5812603 or visit our website at www.obphil.com/home for more details.
