Kuttipa Farmers Organization (KFO) officers with staff from CDPC and TMK
The Kuttipa Farmers Organization (KFO) in the community of Asibanglan, Pinukpuk, Kalinga inaugurated their water system project last April 2. The project benefitted a total of 78 households, comprising an estimate of 468 individuals. The activity was a celebration of fruitful partnerships, featuring stories on the project’s implementation and how it has positively impacted the community.
Community pattong during the activity
Barangay Asibanglan is located in the southernmost part of the Pinukpuk municipality. The primary source of livelihood in this area is agriculture. The Kuttipa Farmers Organization is a community-based organization established in 2010 with the support of Timpuyog ti Mannalon iti Kalinga (TMK), a federation of peasant people’s organizations in the province.
Sitio Bateled and Malico face significant challenges in accessing water compared to other sitios in the barangay. Historically, their existing water system was established in the 1980s by the barangay council. In the late 1990s, the Central Cordillera Agricultural Program (CECAP), a government initiative launched in 1996 under the Department of Agriculture and concluded in 2003, rehabilitated the community’s water system. Despite these efforts, the water supply remains insufficient for the two sitios.
The burden of limited water access
CDPC began its partnership with the Asibanglan community in 2014. At that time the local water system had severely deteriorated and was no longer safe for use. The mainline and distribution pipelines were damaged. This poor condition of the water system placed a significant burden on the community in their access to potable water.
Ms. Juana Dammog singing Salidummay during the inauguration
Juana Dammog, KFO Secretary, shared: “Idi awan ti gripo paylang, itta bubon kami, ag-in-inunna kami nga mapan agsakdo, dagiti dadduma, alas tres mapan dan iuray mi nga mapun-no ginggana ti kasta nga oras ta nagbassit ngarud ti ubbog”
(When there was no water faucet yet, we fetch water from a spring well, we’re competing to go fetch, some of us go as early as three o’clock [in the morning] to fetch water and wait [a long time] for it to fill, because the water is little)
“Nu maminsan, mapan kami idjay karayan aglaba, ipamaga mi paylang idjay, aw-awiten mi, kurang paylang idjay palanggana, kabil mi sako, sakamin tu agawid, kasjay, pati kaldero mi ipan mi idjay ta kurang garud ti danum”
(Sometimes, we go to the river to wash clothes, [we wait ] until they’re dried, we carry it [put in it basins] or sacks, then we [walk back] home, [we also bring] our [dirty cooking] pots [and wash it there], since we lack water)
The community constructed a deep well as a source of water. It takes them 20 minutes to descend into the well. Returning to their homes is even more challenging because they had to carry about 16 liters of water in an uphill path.
Ms. Juana added: “Nu laba met idjay karayan, mga 30 minutes, ta agdardaras kami ta adda ub-ubing nga pinanawan mi ditoy balay”
(When we do laundry in the river, it takes us about 30 minutes, and then we rush [back home] because we left our young children at the house)
Sometimes, they had to bring their children along when fetching water or doing laundry. On the way back home, they carry their children on top of the heavy water containers or sacks of clothes and washed dishes. The inadequate water system in the community was a significant burden, particularly for women. The community-led water system project has relieved them of heavy work, and gave them more time for their families and tasks in their community.
Mr. Henry Mamanao sharing about the water system project
As Mr. Henry Mamanao, the Vice Chairperson of KFO, said: “Tatta ket, iti pinangbuyak ti babbae ket nalag-anan da” (Now that we have a water system, I can see it really eased the burden for the women)
Nalag-anan da ta adda ti dum-manon nga danum ditoy Purok, haan dan nga agsakdun.
Ta gamin adda idjay albayan iti balay, wen nu idjay banyo. Haan dan agbagkat ti litro litro nga danum.
(They are relieved that water is now available in the village, they don’t have to go far to fetch water anymore. Since water is now accessible in their homes, including in the comfort rooms. They no longer need to carry heavy containers of water)
Community Innabuyog System
Mr. Felix Sawadan, a community member shared: “Ket saan mi maliplipatan din kinkinwa di umununa on maleng-ag mi on naid tangdan, hiya din sinursurot mi. ket kaya tako nat iimplement a kingwa det malung-ag tako det. Isunga naimplement mi piman ton intod da on project siton igaw mi on Asibanglan, Gapu din anos unity mi ket naimplement mi”
(We have not forgotten the customs passed down by our forefathers, like the tradition of free labor [innabuyog system/mutual assistance]. We continue to practice it, which helped us to successfully implement the project in our community Asibanglan, [embracing this tradition] along with our patience and unity)
Innabuyog is a traditional system of mutual cooperation common among Cordillera Indigenous Peoples. It relies on collective work without monetary compensation, to help one another. It plays a vital role in fostering community unity. Community members, including men and women, along with CDPC staff, worked together on the project. They hauled sacks of gravel, sand, and other materials, walking about three kilometers to the water source where the main tank was being built. Community members endured the arduous labor during the implementation phase because they were determined to bring water to their community.
Ms. Juana shared a sentiment that was expressed to her by some of the beneficiaries: “Okay lang nga awan ti bayad na basta adda inumin dagiti annak tayo nga ag-eseskwela” (It’s okay that the labor is free, as long as our children who go to school water to drink).
Improving access to water
Ms. Jenny Lapangan testimony during the inauguration activity
During the inauguration, Ms. Jenny Lapangan, shared: “maaddaan kami yun si nadalus un mainum. Manlaba kami yon, man-umos kami sin oras un pion mi ot actually annat da on ud naka water-sealed si CR” (We now have clean drinking water. We can do the laundry, and we can take a bath anytime we want, we have water sealed comfort rooms [toilet flush])
“Kadon annat da pay ud buluy un awa dud piggery da on ata awa dud danum un adu” (And there are houses that already have piggery because there is plenty of water)
“Kadon mabalin min un umili un man-mula si natnatong ta awadon ud pang-sibug mi si danum” (We can grow vegetables in the community because we can now water them)
“Kad nu awad okasyon, padan dituwon bokonon un ikami ud bumulu-bulud si drum un punuwon mi si danum ta ilukat mi lawa on di faucet kad awadon ud danum” (And when there is an occasion like this inauguration, we no longer have to go borrow a drum to fill it with water because we can just open the faucet for water)
“Ot permi tun ragsak mi ta adu-adu en tun danum mi” (We are very happy that we now have a lot of water).
In addition, Ms. Juana gratefully remarked: “Agyaman tayo unay kinyada ta inturong ni Kabunian isuda nga mapan mantulong kada tayo ti kabanbantayan” (We are deeply grateful to them [CDPC], for Kabunian [God] has led them to help us people in the highlands).
However, CDPC emphasized that, in the implementation of projects, the people’s organization is always at the center of the development process. The success of the water system project is a testament to this approach, achieved through the active leadership of the Kuttipa Farmers Organization and the dedicated participation of all community members. ###
Ms. Juana washing the dishes at home
water accessible near the houses