By Lailine Cabungcag
Under the Department of Interior and Local Government’s Sagana at Ligtas na Tubig para sa Lahat (SALINTUBIG) program, the Xavier University - Governance and Leadership Institute (XU-GLI) conducted capacity enhancement training sessions in operating and maintaining a water supply system for barangay and municipal officials in Region 10.
GLI used the Human Rights Based Approach (HRBA), particularly the P-A-N-T-H-E-R Principles (Participation, Accountability, Non-discrimination, Transparency, Human Dignity, Equality, and Rule of Law), as well as a discussion on core values and characters of a good leader, to stress community participation in the implementation of SALINTUBIG.
GLI highlighted the need for vulnerable sectors such as women, children, elderly, persons with disabilities, indigenous peoples and internally-displaced communities, to be included in decision-making on the needs and demands of the barangay or municipality.
Topics on operation and management of water supply system, technical records keeping, as well as financial management and control were also discussed to equip the participants with the practical skills needed to operate and maintain their water supply system.
The first wave of training sessions conducted on June 17-19 was participated in by about 70 LGU officials composed of municipal local government operations officers (MLGOOs), municipal planning and development officers (MPDOs), municipal engineers (MEs), and key officers and members of the Barangay Water and Sanitation Associations (BWSAs) of Catarman and Mahinog, Camiguin, Balingasag, Lagonglong, Opol, and Libertad, Misamis Oriental, and Bonifacio, Misamis Occidental.
The second set on June 24-26 was attended in by 140 MLGOOs, MPDOs, MEs, key officers and members of BWSAs from Baungon, Cabanglasan, Impasug-ong, Kibawe, Malaybalay City, Malitbog, Manolo Fortich, Maramag, and Pangantucan in Bukidnon.
GLI’s capacity-enhancing interventions form part of the social building blocks that serve to complement the implementation of hard infrastructures, such as the construction, operation and maintenance of a water system.
SALINTUBIG is a project of the Regional Water and Sanitation (WatSan) Hub of Northern Mindanao, in which GLI is a member. It is funded through bottom-up budgeting under the DILG’s project development management unit.