13/04/2026
๐ฎ ๐ฝ๐๐ฏ๐น๐ถ๐ฐ ๐๐ฐ๐ต๐ผ๐ผ๐น๐ ๐ด๐ฎ๐ถ๐ป ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ฐ๐ฒ๐๐ ๐๐ผ ๐ฝ๐ผ๐๐ฎ๐ฏ๐น๐ฒ ๐๐ฎ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ, ๐ฏ๐ผ๐ผ๐๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ต๐๐ด๐ถ๐ฒ๐ป๐ฒ, ๐น๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ป๐ถ๐ป๐ด
By Alvin C. delos Santos
TUGUEGARAO CITY, Cagayan โ Access to safe and potable water is now transforming the daily lives of learners in two public schools in Cagayan, following the turnover of a Water System and WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene) project under Global Grant (GG2465888) on April 4.
The project, implemented by the Rotary Club of Tuguegarao Rainbow (RCTR), District 3770, in partnership with the Rotary Club of Cheongju Leaders of South Korea, District 3740, aims to provide sustainable access to clean water, an essential foundation for improved hygiene, health, and education.
At Gangauan Elementary School (GES) in Amulung town, where 110 learners are enrolled for school year 2025โ2026, the primary water source had long been an artesian well with visibly dirty water and a strong, unpleasant odor. This posed health risks and made it difficult for learners to maintain proper hygiene.
Meanwhile, Maraburab Integrated School (MIS) in Alcala town, serving 187 learners, previously had no direct access to safe drinking water. Learners and school personnel had to fetch water from nearby households, consuming valuable time that could otherwise be spent on learning.
With the construction of the new water systems, both schools now have reliable access to clean and potable water, significantly improving sanitation practices such as regular handwashing, proper toilet use, and overall school cleanliness.
RCTR President Janette Dulin anticipates that these changes will reduce waterborne diseases, address hygiene-related health issues, and foster a more conducive learning environment.
The two schools were selected for the grant after inspections conducted on March 24โ25, 2024, where they were identified among eight shortlisted schools endorsed by the Department of Educationโs Schools Division of Cagayan.
Club President Dulin said the long-term impact of the project, urging the school communities to sustain and maintain the facilities.
"We hand over this water system to your school, hoping it will be cared for and sustained for years. May this project serve as a reminder that when people unite with compassion and a shared purpose, meaningful change becomes possible,โ Dulin said.
She also said that access to clean water goes beyond meeting a basic need; it directly supports childrenโs education.
โWater is more than a basic necessity. It means better health for families, fewer absences in school, improved concentration among learners, and more time for children to focus on their studies. Today, we celebrate not just the completion of a project, but the beginning of a lasting impact,โ she added.
Dulin expressed gratitude to South Korean partners led by their Club President Jo Jonghoon, as well as District 3770 Governor Alexander Santos, whose support and shared commitment made the initiative possible under the Rotary motto, Service Above Self.
School heads also stressed how the new water systems directly address long-standing challenges affecting learnersโ health and academic performance.
School Head Nestor Del Rosario said that the poor water quality previously contributed to hygiene-related illnesses, malnutrition, and lack of concentration among learners at GES.
โWe are pleased and hopeful that this project will help us achieve our educational goals. With clean water now available, our learners can improve their health, hygiene, and overall well-being, giving them a better chance to succeed in school,โ he said.
Similarly, School Head Gemma Arellano of MIS expressed gratitude, noting that the facility eases the burden on learners and teachers who previously had to fetch water daily.
The project was made possible in part by a grant from The Rotary Foundation of Rotary International on December 5, 2025, with implementation commencing shortly after. Groundbreaking was conducted on December 26 of the same year, marking the beginning of a collaborative effort that now delivers lasting benefits to both schools and their nearby communities.
โWith clean water now flowing in these schools, the project stands as a powerful example of how access to basic services can uplift not only health and hygiene, but also the quality of education and the future of young learners,โ RCTR President Dulin said. #
