"TUBIG NA MALINIS, BATANG MABILIS": Water Drinking Fountain Project

St. James High School in Besao, Mountain Province, is a learning institution built with an acceptable structure with cemented ground; however, many areas are already worn out and paints are chipping off. Although the school is an Episcopal private school, there is currently no DepEd (WASH in Schools) rating system. The school is expected only to comply with WASH standards and is not consistently required to undergo the official star rating. Despite these conditions, the school remains a vital center of education for the community. It also holds personal significance to Rotary Club of Makati Poblacion (RCMP) Incumbent President Jonathan Calixto, an alumnus (Batch ’89), whose advocacy includes giving back to the community where he grew up.

On September 30, 2025, following RCMP’s service project in Belong, Mountain Province, members proceeded to Besao to conduct an ocular inspection of St. James High School. During the visit, interviews were conducted with alumni, including classmates of President Calixto, as well as school representatives. The school principal, Ms. Deborah, confirmed that access to safe drinking water is a major challenge. While water is available for washing, it is not safe for drinking.

Despite reminders, some students resorted to drinking from wash areas, exposing them to health risks. This resulted in approximately 2.96% student absenteeism due to waterborne diseases. To cope, 11 classrooms, around 25 students each regularly purchased 1 to 2 gallons of drinking water weekly costing between ₱25 to ₱50 per container. These costs were shared among students and teachers. Others brought personal bottles and relied on limited classroom water storage for refilling. In total, the school community spent an estimated ₱1,100 to ₱2,200 monthly for drinking water.

The impact extended beyond financial strain. Students who became ill had to catch up on missed lessons, prompting teachers to dedicate an additional 30 minutes during lunch breaks and extend teaching hours from 4:30 PM to 5:30 PM—without additional compensation or provisions. While this situation may appear minor to some, for St. James High School and similar institutions in Mountain Province, access to clean drinking water is a critical issue directly affecting health, attendance, and academic performance.

To address this need, RCMP implemented its 24th Rotary Water Drinking Fountain project “ TUBIG NA MALINIS, BATANG MABILIS” based on its standard design. After planning the logistics, the project commenced approximately two weeks after the initial assessment. One of the main challenges encountered was the limited availability of skilled workers due to multiple ongoing construction projects in the area. Despite this, two workers were engaged, rendering eight hours of work per week (excluding weekends), and successfully completed the 8-faucet Rotary water fountain within five weeks.

On February 25, 2026, RCMP members led by Incumbent President Jonathan Calixto, CP Morena “Mong” Canizares, and Rtn. Col. Fred Obar visited the site for inspection and the official turnover of the completed facility. The event was attended by the Incumbent Mayor Bryne Bacwaden, Besao residents, Philippine National Police (PNP), AKG, St. James High School Batch ’89, JEMJOR Family and partner organization PROTECT (Police Officers Responsible in Organizing, Transforming, and Empowering Communities). During the same activity, RCMP also distributed 10 wheelchairs , 4 walkers, 65 canes for senior citizens and 8 units of solar lights for 4th Maneuver Platoon, 1st Mountain Province PMFC led by PLT Eugene B Patpat- EW based in Banao, Mountain Province. the group that maintains peace and order in Besao.

As of March 2026, after three months of operation, the school principal reported significant improvements. Students now drink directly from the water fountain, eliminating the need to purchase water. This resulted in estimated savings of ₱1,100 to ₱2,200 per month for the school community. Classroom water containers are now refilled regularly, allowing each student to save approximately ₱16 monthly. Dormitory residents and nearby community members also benefit by refilling their water containers, saving around ₱25 per week. More importantly, no cases of waterborne disease-related absenteeism have been reported since the installation of the water fountain. Make-up classes are no longer necessary, and students are consistently present and actively engaged in their studies.

This project demonstrates that strong collaboration among Rotary, local government, partner organizations, and the community can produce meaningful and measurable impact. The Rotary Water Fountain not only serves the immediate needs of the school but also extends its benefits to nearby residents—promoting better health, reducing expenses, and fostering a more sustainable and supportive community environment.

Submitted by: PP Medileen Herrera-Maeda