Residents of Barangay Ican in this town have had a continuous source of free, clean water for the past three years from a government solar-powered water system with filtration.

In an interview Friday, Barangay Captain Michael Cardenas said that 549 households in the village have been receiving free water from the facility since it was completed in July 2023.

The number excludes households from nearby villages of Sta. Barbara and Calasiao towns, which also get their water from the facility.

“Even during drought, when there is no more water in the residences, the water supply here is continuous,” he said.

The project was funded with nearly PHP5 million by the national government through the Financial Assistance to Local Government Unit – Potable Water.

Cardenas said the barangay council funds the system’s maintenance.

“The municipal government conducts regular monitoring so we ensure it is always safe and clean for the sake of the residents,” he said in Filipino.

He added that since it is solar-powered, they save a lot and need not pay for electric consumption to run the facility.

“This is a big help to many households. We just ask for everybody’s cooperation to maintain its cleanliness at all times,” he said.

Violeta Bruan, a resident of Barangay Balingueo in Sta. Barbara said they also get their water from the facility in the neighboring village of Ican, Malasiqui, whenever their water source becomes scarce or turbid.

“People can draw water from the facility at any time of day. We hope we could also have this kind of facility in our village,” she said in Filipino. (PNA)