Crystal Flow 2021 May - August

Editor’s Note

Maintaining Momentum the DCWD Way

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ction creates momentum, momentum creates consistency, and consistency achieves goals.

Just like water facing obstacles in its way, Davao City Water District seamlessly moved around the pandemic’s limitations to continue its flow towards progress.

DCWD has continued to establish mutually beneficial and sustainable relationships among its stakeholders particularly the community partners in the corporate social responsibility and watershed management programs. Projects in some water supply systems to improve water availability were also completed within this quarter. In addition, progress towards wastewater services has been made with the approval of the MOA between DCWD and the City Government of Davao for the Davao City Septage Management Program.

Customer service operations also leveled up to proactively offer customer convenience while navigating pandemic health protocols through the addition of Bajada office teller booths and launching of the Online Billing Inquiry.

These feats requiring great adaptability, courage, and resilience are owed to our hardworking personnel whom we recognized through Rewards and Recognition, Employee Welfare and Benefit, and capacity-building activities that further empower them to maximize their potential as they serve the people.

Indeed, maintaining the momentum of efficient public service after all the shifts and changes brought about by the pandemic’s challenges has not been an easy journey. Rather, it is a worthwhile reminder of our strength as an organization with a mission to go above and beyond.

RUTH G. JABINES

Editor-in-Chief Manager, Community Relations and External Affairs Department publicinfo@davao-water.gov.ph

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From the GM’s Desk

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e are living in turbulent times. We are normalizing the odds and challenges, uncertainty and confusion as all part of the pandemic effect.

As we continue to handle this seemingly insurmountable situation, the progress we have made by far proved to be a catalyst in the way we approach and navigate in this uncertain time.

To boost our response during this pandemic, we continue to build around our core corporate strategies as our primary guide over time. One way is through maintaining our collaboration and strong relationships with Local Water Districts (LWDs) all over Mindanao. We believe that this unselfish sharing of valuable resources keeps a proactive and sustainable approach for the longevity and development of LWDs. It is also through the successful linkage and partnership with multi-sectoral agencies and the Local Government Unit that we are able to bring into fruition the mandate of the utility which is to provide waste-water services to the people of Davao. The Septage Management Program will provide a healthier environment and a secure future to the inhabitants of the city.

Our strategies also directed us to become agents of change that brings equity of opportunities to the peripheral communities as well. With the eyed completion of Davao City Bulk Water Supply Project, we double our time and effort to address the water, sanitation and hygiene concerns of the project’s adjacent communities.

We foresee a future where community members are primarily engaged in the protection of our water sources, especially the surface water source.

Despite the pandemic, we were able to keep the ball rolling and increase the pace of our momentum in terms of the quality and efficiency of our services. All of these feats were not impossible because of the dedication and commitment of the great women and men of DCWD -these employees who keep the momentum by adapting and living with this global phenomenon.

It is in the worst of times that we give more of our best performance. Kudos to everyone!

ENGR. EDWIN V. REGALADO General Manager ogm@davao-water.gov.ph davaowater@yahoo.com

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Water News

DCWD, City Gov ink MOA for Davao City Septage Management Program Jamae G. Dela Cruz

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CWD Chairperson Eduardo A. Bangayan and Davao City Mayor Sara Z. Duterte signed the Memorandum of Agreement for the Davao City Septage Management Program (SMP) on July 1, 2021. The signing was made possible by City Ordinance No. 0588-21 enacted by the Davao City Council on May 11, 2021 authorizing the City Mayor to enter into and sign the MOA for the septage aspect of the Septage and Sewerage Management Ordinance of Davao City.

The MOA provides the roles of the two parties in the establishment, operation, maintenance, and management of the Septage Treatment Plant (SpTp) specified in the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of the Septage and Sewerage Management Ordinance of Davao City.

Under the MOA, the City Government will grant DCWD the authority to construct, operate, and maintain the SpTp in accordance with DOH standards; administer and enforce the provisions of the Septage and Sewerage Management Ordinance and its IRR; conduct survey of all properties and premises in the City to determine presence and accessibility of septic tanks for desludging; and serve notices

of non-conformance and/or issue certificate of compliance based on the IRR. For its part, DCWD will construct the SpTp and fully bear the entire construction costs; operate and maintain the SpTp and shoulder its operation and maintenance costs; impose the Septage Management Fee and its mode of payment subject to regulatory conditions; and pay the desludging fee to the City Government.

The Davao City SMP is a joint undertaking between DCWD and the City Government to address the sanitation problems of the city due to improper disposal of wastewater.

It is the City Government’s compliance to RA 9725 or the Philippine Clean Water Act that imposes upon local governments to share the responsibility in the management and improvement of water utility within their territorial jurisdiction. It provides that in areas where there are no sewerage systems, water districts or water utilities may adopt SMP or other sanitation alternatives.

DCWD targets to operate its first SpTP and offer sanitation services to the people of Davao City starting in 2023.

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Water News

Service improvement projects completed Christine Grace P. Casimiro

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rojects aimed to improve water availability in different water supply systems (WSS) were completed for the period.

Following the operation of Calinan Production Well (PW) No. 1 in February 2021, the complementary projects were completed in May 2021 to maximize the extent of the new water source with a supply capacity of 5,000 cubic meters per day. Around 900 service connections were unbundled from Malagos WSS and integrated to Calinan WSS. Of the 900 service connections, 415 are supplied through the newly-installed 50-HP booster pump while the remaining service connections are supplied directly by Calinan Reservoir No. 1 by gravity.

For Tugbok WSS, two projects were completed in areas experiencing intermittent water supply. One is the pipeline improvement along Catalunan Pequeño Road for the 600 service connections of Samantha Homes Subd. and immediate environs. The other is the mainline improvement along Bago Gallera to transfer around 900 service connections from Tugbok WSS. The transferred service connections were supplemented though water supply optimization of the neighboring Binugao, Toril, and Lubogan WSS. There were also two completed projects for Dumoy WSS: the construction of cistern and booster pump facilities at San Pedro Village in Buhangin to increase the duration of sufficient water supply especially in the elevated portion and mainline improvement at Vista Verde Village in Panacan to ensure the area gets water supply within the 24-hour duration.

DCWD continues to implement immediate and midterm solutions to address water supply concerns while it waits for the commissioning of the Davao City Bulk Water Supply Project in 2022 that will provide 300 million liters per day and improve water availability in all its service coverage areas.

Dumoy WSS

Calinan Production Well No. 1

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Cistern and booster pump at San Pedro Village in Buhangin

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Water News

Bajada teller booths, online billing inquiry for customer convenience Christine Grace P. Casimiro

DCWD adds teller booths in Bajada sub-office to cater to more customers while still maintaining basic health protocols. GM Edwin V. Regalado explained that this development is among the efforts of DCWD to provide convenience and satisfaction to customers in the new normal.

More teller booths in Bajada sub-office

DCWD’s strategically-located offices have remained open to accept water bill payments and customer service requests. DCWD also accepts online water bill payments thru Landbank and GCash and caters to customer service requests thru its 24/7 call center hotlines, and website chat support (www. davao-water.gov.ph) and official Facebook page (facebook.com/officialDCWD).

DCWD continues to maximize its website (www.davao-water.gov.ph) to offer online services to its customers.

Customers who signed up as registered DCWD website user may enrol their DCWD account to avail of the Online Billing Inquiry. Multiple DCWD account numbers may be enrolled. Once enrolled, customers may view their water bill anytime, anywhere!

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Water News

Watershed protection and CSR programs strengthened Katrina Belen M. Roble

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espite the limitations brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic, DCWD strengthened the implementation of its watershed protection and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programs.

Watershed Protection DCWD continues to sustain quality and supply capacity of water sources through its Integrated Watershed Management Program (IWMP) in Malagos, Mt. Talomo-Lipadas, and Mt. Tipolog-Tamugan watersheds.

Sustainable Upland Farming and Backyard Gardening Project In May 2021, the Environment and Watershed Protection Division (EWPD) conducted seminars on Sustainable Agroforestry participated in by 40 participants from Starapple Wines Watershed Assn. in Malagos and Mt. Tongcaling Cultural Development Assn. and Obu Manuvu Ancestral Domain Assn. in Tambobong. The same activity was held virtually and participated in by 22 participants from Daliaon Plantation Lipadas Watershed Assn. and Tribu Tagabawa Ancestral Domain Assn.

The seminars were among the activities under the Sustainable Upland Farming and Backyard Gardening Project for the People’s Organizations. Said project aims to sustain environmental management in DCWD’s watersheds by engaging upland farmers to adopt agro-ecological farming technologies.

Aside from seminars, the project includes provision of farm tools and materials; establishment of model farms, household-based nurseries, and backyard vegetable gardens; and monitoring and evaluation. DCWD also distributed vegetable seeds to the partner POs in August.

Forest and Biodiversity Protection Project Twenty Forest and Water Guardians from barangays Daliaon Plantation, Tungkalan, Tambobong, and Manuel Guianga participated in the webinar on Enforcing Mechanism of Environmental Laws on June 4 and 16.

Discussed were the Importance of Watersheds and Watershed Code of Davao City which emphasized the importance of protecting watersheds and the prohibited acts by DCWD Environmental Management Unit Supervisor Elven S. Apor and Enforcing Mechanism of Environmental Laws which highlighted the laws that prohibits illegal activities inside the protected areas, its corresponding penalties, and the procedures on how to respond to reported violations by Department of Environment and Natural Resources - Community Environment and Natural Resources Office Forester Cherryl D. Navarrete.

The Forest and Water Guardians are DCWD’s Indigenous Peoples community partners in its IWMP who help protect and manage DCWD’s projects sites by assisting in foot patrolling, tree tagging, nursery tending, monitoring, documentation, and preventing illegal activities.

Employees Tree Planting Activity As part of the celebration of June as the Environment Month, DCWD continued with its annual employees tree planting activity that was modified this year to ensure adherence to health and safety protocols.

The activity started with a webinar on updates on the Philippine Forest, climate change, description of plants, and ways of proper planting participated in by 19 employees on June 24.

With the modified methodology, participants provided the location including the pertinent details on the size, status of planting site, and vegetation while the organizers from the EWPD evaluated and provided the appropriate type and number of seedlings to be planted.

After the webinar, the participants proceeded with planting on their respective sites on the agreed schedule. The second series will be held in November in time for the Water Consciousness Month celebration. The progress will be monitored year round.

CSR Programs To complement DCWD’s effort to rehabilitate and protect the water sources of Davao City, DCWD also strengthened the implementation of its CSR programs aimed to improve the way of life of its partner communities.

EDUCATION Tulong Aral ng DCWD DCWD extended its support to the Department of Education XI (DepEd) – Davao City Division with the continuing implementation of its Educational Support Program: Tulong Aral ng DCWD scholarship for elementary and high school students for school year 2021-2022.

The Tulong Aral ng DCWD is a performance-based scholarship to support elementary, high school, college, and Forest and Water Guardian beneficiaries. Also part of the program are the provisions of plumbing materials to junior and senior high school students and educational supplies to upland and lowland learners.

The Community Relations Division (CRD) headed by Manager Lorna M. Maxino conducted a Virtual Coordination Meeting on August 12 and 13 with DepEd Division Partnership Focal Person Jonas P. Piore, and 19 elementary and 16 high school-head beneficiaries for the current year partnership. Discussed was the Memorandum of Agreement including improved procedures and schedules in the submission of reports and processing and distribution of cash incentives.

Beneficiary school heads commended DCWD for continuing to provide incentives and materials and which students in turn are motivated and encouraged to strive hard to earn education and become stewards of the environment.

INFORMATION, EDUCATION AND COMMUNICATION (IEC) Training of Trainers As part of the learning and development interventions to empower and encourage partner communities, DCWD CRD facilitated a Training of Trainers on IEC on Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WaSH) to 26 Star Apple Wines Watershed Assn. members and Brgy. Wines functionaries on May 11.

Discussed were topics on Water and Health and Sanitation and Hygiene particularly on the negative effects of open defecation and importance of proper handwashing. Participants also performed demonstrations in facilitating community-based WaSH orientations.

WaSH Orientation As part of the continued support to ensure program sustainability, DCWD observed the conduct of WaSH Orientation re-echo facilitated by the Brgy. 76-A functionaries to leaders of Badjao communities on May 19. This barangay is among the beneficiaries of DCWD’s Public Sanitation and Hygiene Upgrading Program in 2018. Topics included WaSH and practices and experiences in the community level.

2nd Online DCWD Youth ECOngress Sustaining youth involvement and empowering their role in water resource and environment preservation, the CRD conducted the 2nd Online Youth ECOngress on July 28 and August 4.

Bannering the theme Youth for Environment: Towards Improved and Gender-Responsive Generation, said virtual camp was attended by around 350 students who are also beneficiaries of DCWD’s Tulong Aral ng DCWD and Patubig sa Eskwela projects.

Lectures in the ECOngress focused on topics that provide timely and suitable inputs on environmental sustainability amid the pandemic.

Topics included Environmental Protection in Relation to COVID-19 Pandemic Situation discussed by Watershed Management Unit Supervisor Anji Laura A. Grecia-Lorona, Gender and Youth by Gender and Development Unit Supervisor Hope D. Olivo, and Responsible Social Media Use by General Services Dept. Special Facilities Administrator Madonna C. Llaguno. The ECOngress was co-facilitated

by DCWD scholars known as the DCWD W.A.T.E.R. (Well-rounded, Action driven, Tenacious, Environment-conscious, and Responsible) Ambassadors as part of their capacity building.

Participants were encouraged to raise their advocacies on environment-related issues through a social media campaign using the hashtag #dcwdyouth4envi and to share key lessons learned with the hashtag #dcwdecongress2021takeaways as part of their outputs from the virtual camp.

CAPACITY BUILDING DCWD develops and strengthens the knowledge and skills of community partners to help them become more effective partners for development.

DCWD CRD facilitated these learning and development interventions throughout the month of August on Sustainable Agriculture and Solid Waste Management to Assn. of Concerned Citizens on Watershed and Tansing-Colong Watershed Assn., Tribong Tagabawa Ancestral Domain Organization, and Lipadas Watershed Assn. (LIPWATA) and Tungkalan Tribal Assn. (TTA); Gender Sensitivity particularly Basic Gender Concepts Orientation and reviewing and updating of action plan to Daliaon Plantation Lipadas Watershed Assn. and LIPWATA and TTA; and Etiquette in Facilitating Virtual Activities and Responsible Social Media Use to DCWD W.A.T.E.R. Ambassadors on June 5.

STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENTS DCWD also engaged with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) through a presentation of DCWD’s programs in Baguio District by DvM Maxino during the DSWD Pantawid Pamilya Graduation Ceremony on May 5.

In another undertaking, DCWD conducted community needs assessment including historical profiling and identification of problem causes in Purok Sualon’s water supply system on May 25 as part of DCWD’s interventions for Brgy. Tamugan, which is among the host barangays of the Davao City Bulk Water Supply Project. These barangays are collectively known as CARCATABAWI-TAMTAM composed of Carmen, Cadalian, Tawan-Tawan, Baguio, Wines, Tamugan, and Tambobong.

GAD Moves

Gender analysis conducted amidst COVID-19 Corrine Grace Casia-Opada

Brgy. Biao Guianga

GAD Unit Supervisor Hope D. Olivo gives her opening remarks.

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CWD has identified at least 20 barangays where low water pressure to no water is experienced. To address the water situation, the Gender and Development (GAD) Unit together with the Engineering and Construction departments will determine gender-responsive infrastructure projects specifically for the most affected portions in the identified barangays.

Developing gender-responsive infrastructure projects means that the different needs and concerns of men, women, and other sectors in the community in relation to water are taken into consideration apart from the construction and design per se. With this end goal, DCWD through its GAD

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A participant explains their output for the workshop on Access and Control Tool.

unit continued to conduct gender analysis in the target barangays.

For this period, gender analysis were conducted in barangays Talandang, Biao Guianga, Biao Joaquin, and Talomo River on May 18, 19, 20 and 21, 2021, respectively.

With the restrictions in place, the GAD Unit modified the conduct of community consultations for the gender analysis.

In each barangay, participants were limited to 10 who represented the youth, homemakers, employed, and frontliners sectors as well as barangay officials.

Health protocols were strictly observed and participants were provided with individual workshop kits and packed meals to avoid sharing and close contact.

Likewise, physical distancing was

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Brgy. Biao Joaquin

A participant shares his insights on the workshop on Time Used Tool.

implemented during plenary workshops and presentation of outputs.

Despite the limitations, the workshops threshed out how the intermittent water supply affects hygiene and sanitation, compounds the gender inequality in household roles, and contributes to household expenses. Also discussed were the effects of intermittent water supply to COVID-19 safety measures particularly regular hand washing.

DCWD facilitators and participants cap off the activity with a group photo.

Brgy. Talomo River

Computer Encoder B Adzmil Abdurajak gives instruction for the workshop.

The modified face to face consultations would have continued in the other barangays but the COVID-19 cases in the city continued to surge prompting the City Government of Davao to restrict physical activities classified as non-essential. With this, the GAD Unit is mulling the conduct of virtual gender analyses so as to continue the groundwork for the realization of gender-responsive infrastructure projects.

Indeed, while the pandemic changed most of the ways we do things, it has also presented opportunities to innovate for DCWD to carry on with its projects for the communities in need.

A participant presents their output for the workshop on Time Used Tool.

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Water News

28 Mindanao WDs, 1 vocational HS receive service vehicles from DCWD

Katrina Belen M. Roble

DCWD BOD represented by Dir. Ruiz and Dir. Largo (top row, mid and 2nd from R) and officials headed by GM Regalado (top row, 2nd from L) and the recipients pose for posterity to cap the virtual turnover ceremony.

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CWD donated 44 secondhand service vehicles to 28 Mindanao water districts. The ceremonial turnover was held on July 22, 2021 and the vehicles were claimed by the recipient water districts from July to August 2021.

Among the beneficiaries were Norala WD receiving two service vehicles and three motorcyles and Tarragona WD with two service vehicles and one motorcycle. Barobo, Compostela, Hinatuan, IGACOS, Kapalong, Lianga, Marawi, Tagbina, Tangub, and Tubod-Baroy water districts each received one service vehicle and one motorcycle.

Asuncion, Baganga, Banga, Bansalan, Cantilan, Del Carmen, Hagonoy, Labason, Lebak, Liloy, Lupon, Manolo Fortich, Mati, Metro Midsayap, Pikit, and Wao water districts each received one service vehicle.

DCWD also donated one service vehicle and two non-operational four-wheeled vehicles to Lupon Vocational High School as part of the hands-on education and demonstration on automotive servicing course.

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Donated service vehicles from DCWD

GM Edwin V. Regalado who is also a board member of the Mindanao Association of Water Districts said that the donations form part of DCWD’s commitment as a godfather water district. This is to provide support to smaller water districts to improve their operation efficiency.

Director and Chairperson of the Committee on Property (COP) Romel Alfredo R. Ruiz emphasized DCWD’s continued assistance to other water districts despite the challenges of the pandemic while COP Vice-Chairperson Rogelio G. Largo hoped that the vehicles would help the recipient water districts improve their services in their respective communities.

On behalf of the recipients, GM Carol S. Tolentino of Metro Midsayap WD thanked DCWD for its willingness to help smaller water districts throughout the years. Aside from vehicle donations, DCWD also aids water districts thru accommodating benchmarking requests and providing various technical assistance.

Since 2008, DCWD has donated more than one hundred service vehicles to help other water districts improve their operation and customer service.

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Water News

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Camille Margarette U. Solon

Water News

Ensuring employees welfare

Chairperson Bangayan strikes his “bakuna pose” as the inoculation of DCWD employees commences.

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ince the pandemic broke out, DCWD has been proactive in ensuring the safety and welfare of its 1,500 employees and support staff.

In place is the COVID-19 Intervention Project spearheaded by the Human Resource Dept. to continuously implement control measures and break virus transmission chains in the workplace. DCWD’s Triage Team conducts aggressive RT-PCR testing to those exposed to confirmed or probable COVID-19 and/or experiencing COVID like symptoms.

Together with the testing, case investigation and contact tracing are also conducted. DCWD developed its own isolation facility where quarantined employees are housed as part of the support measures.

Employees undergo vaccination with assistance from BIHMI.

Two rounds of COVID-19 vaccination were successfully completed through the generosity of BOD Chairperson Eduardo A. Bangayan. In celebration of his 70th birthday, Chairperson Bangayan deemed it right at this time of the pandemic to share his blessings by way of donating 3,000 doses of Sinovac vaccines to DCWD. In order to ensure the proper administration of the vaccines from July until September 2021, DCWD sought the professional services of Brokenshire Integrated Health Ministries, Inc. (BIHMI).

The procurement of the Sinovac vaccines was done through the Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chambers of Commerce & Industry, Inc. The 3,000 doses privately procured by Chairperson Bangayan for DCWD did not only support the Department of Health’s RESBAKUNA, KASANGGA NG BIDA program but had saved the National Government of its allocation for the district.

DCWD also granted Hazard Pay to all employees who had to physically report to work in the exigency of service during the period implementation of the Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine in Davao City from June 5 until July 15, 2021. The grant is in accordance to the guidelines prescribed by the Dept. of Budget and Management.

GM Edwin V. Regalado and AGM for Administration Bernardo D. Delima Jr. (2nd and 1st from R, respectively) show their “bakuna pose” with some employees.

Despite the effects of the pandemic to DCWD, its resilient and committed workforce with the support and leadership of its Board of Directors and management has always prioritized continuity of service to the people of Davao City.

DCWD’s Isolation Facility