At least 17 communities in Region XII will now have access to potable water after water system projects funded under the 2019 SALINTUBIG Program of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) have been completed, the DILG XII- Project Development and Management Unit (PDMU) confirmed.

All 17 projects were implemented by LGU recipients from the Province of Cotabato: three in Carmen, nine in Midsayap, three in Pikit, and two in President Roxas.

The Municipalities of Carmen, Midsayap and Pikit have achieved a 100% accomplishment rate, while President Roxas has an accomplishment rate of 40% with three more other on-going projects. Region XII has a total accomplishment rate of 41.46% as of June 10, 2020.

Apart from President Roxas, 10 other water system projects are still on-going, with one project in Aleosan, Cotabato, one in Alabel, seven in Kiamba, Sarangani Province, and one in Palimbang, Sultan Kudarat Province.

Meanwhile, PDMU said the Region has four projects up for bidding in the Municipality of Tulunan, Cotabato while seven projects have been suspended due to the quarantine period for COVID-19. The list includes one project in Kabacan, Cotabato and six projects in Lake Sebu, South Cotabato.

Overall, Region XII has a total of 41 funded projects worth Php 107, 550, 000.00 under the Department’s 2019 Salintubig program distributed to 11 recipient LGUs.

Sagana at Ligtas na tubig sa Lahat or SALINTUBIG aims to provide water systems to waterless communities through financial assistance, along with improving the capacities of local government units and their water service providers in managing water supply systems in a sustainable manner through capacity development activities.