Metro Dumaguete Water triumphs at Asian Water Awards 2024 for community-centred innovation

The Kaubang Tubero Program has empowered local plumbers to address water leaks and improve water conservation, whilst the Hugas Luwas campaign has provided schools and public areas with clean water and sanitation facilities, promoting public health and hygiene.

Metro Dumaguete Water (MDW), a company providing water services to 36,000 homes and establishments in Dumaguete City since 2021, has made a remarkable impact in the Philippines' water management landscape by winning two prestigious awards at the Asian Water Awards 2024 – the Water Education and Awareness Initiative of the Year - Philippines and the Community-Based Water Project of the Year - Philippines.

These accolades made possible through the company’s Kaubang Tubero sa Barangay Program and Hugas Luwas sa Dumaguete Program underscore MDW's commitment to addressing local water issues whilst empowering communities and enhancing public health.

Elevating local plumbing solutions

The Water Education and Awareness Initiative of the Year - Philippines award was conferred to MDW for its Kaubang Tubero sa Barangay (Community Plumber in the Locality) Program, an initiative aimed at solving a critical local problem—leaking pipes.

In Dumaguete City, many residents were struggling to address after-the-metre leaks, which significantly increased their water bills and led to water wastage. The lack of access to qualified plumbers further exacerbated this issue.

MDW, in collaboration with the Dumaguete City Water District (DCWD), the Technical Skills Development Authority (TESDA), and the Association of Barangay Councils (ABC), developed a comprehensive solution. Village chiefs nominated potential student plumbers from their communities, ensuring that only motivated and capable individuals participated. TESDA customised a basic plumbing module suited to the skill levels of the students, whilst experienced DCWD plumbers were tapped to serve as technical trainers.

Upon completing the programme, 48 student plumbers graduated, fully equipped with plumbing toolkits provided by MDW. These new community plumbers are now key to solving water leak issues in their areas, and their work has had a significant impact on water conservation and cost savings for the community.

The programme’s success is evident in the 50% decrease in leak reports after its implementation, with customer service teams receiving 15% fewer monthly after-the-metre leak concerns.

This initiative not only helped reduced MDW’s Non-Revenue Water by 3.2% upon implementation, but it also provided the community with a sustainable solution by enabling local plumbers to handle their neighbourhoods’ needs. The graduates have also found new income opportunities, increasing their earnings by at least 10% through leak repairs.

Safeguarding health through sanitation

In addition to the plumbing initiative, MDW's Hugas Luwas sa Dumaguete (Wash to Save Lives in Dumaguete) campaign earned the company the Community-Based Water Project of the Year - Philippines award.

This programme addresses a critical public health gap in local schools, where many lacked access to potable water and sanitation facilities. According to reports by GIZ and UNICEF, 24% of schools in the Philippines have no access to clean drinking water, whilst 76% do not meet basic sanitation requirements—leaving students and educators vulnerable to disease.

MDW’s Hugas Luwas Program directly supports the Department of Education's (DepEd) WASH in Schools (WINS) programme by installing group handwashing stations in schools and public areas. These stations have provided 5,800 students from six schools with 58 faucets connected to safe, potable water, drastically improving hygiene conditions. The programme also introduced educational campaigns aimed at teaching proper handwashing techniques to both students and teachers, fostering a culture of cleanliness and health.

The programme has a two-pronged approach: providing the necessary infrastructure and coupling it with a strong educational component, including easy-to-learn jingles and choreography. As a result, the recipient schools reported zero outbreaks of water-borne diseases and improved their WINS programme ratings.

Moreover, the Hugas Luwas campaign has proven scalable. Beyond schools, MDW has expanded the initiative to local communities, installing 40 portable handwashing stations in public spaces like government offices and parks. This expansion reflects MDW’s commitment to public health and hygiene education at the grassroots level.

Sustainability and impact

The sustainability of both award-winning initiatives is ensured through continuous monitoring and collaboration with key government bodies. MDW’s close partnership with DepEd, the Department of Health (DOH), and the Dumaguete City Government ensures that these projects will remain impactful for years to come.

The success of the Kaubang Tubero and Hugas Luwas programmes is not only a win for MDW but also for the entire Dumaguete community. These initiatives have improved access to clean water, enhanced local skills, and strengthened public health infrastructure, all whilst providing tangible economic benefits to everyone involved.

Metro Dumaguete Water’s recognition at the Asian Water Awards 2024 highlights the power of community-based solutions in addressing fundamental issues such as water access, sanitation, and infrastructure.

The Asian Water Awards, now in its second year, is a prestigious award programme that recognises outstanding achievements in the water sector throughout Asia. It is a platform for highlighting innovative projects, initiatives, and companies that have significantly contributed to the region's water management, conservation, and sustainability. The awards inspire and promote best practices, facilitate knowledge sharing, and encourage collaboration amongst water professionals, organisations, and communities.

The Asian Water Awards is presented by Asian Power Magazine. To view the full list of winners, click here. If you want to join the 2024 awards programme and be acclaimed for your company's revolutionary innovations and initiatives in the water industry in Asia, please contact Danica Avila at [email protected].