Mindanaotoday.com |DILG-10 unveils Salintubig’s success stories, launches coffee table books, AVPs
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – To highlight the impact of the SALINTUBIG program in the region, the Department of the Interior and Local Government-10 (DILG-10), in partnership with the Regional Hub and Sanitation (RHub) unveiled the program’s success stories during the launching of the program’s Coffee Table Book and Video Showing Premiere.
The launch is a compilation of the program’s best practices, stories of hope, change, and triumph of the beneficiaries since its implementation in 2013.
In northern Mindanao, a total of 15, 679 families in waterless communities now have access to potable water because of the SALINTUBIG program – a program created by the national government in response to the ongoing struggle of access to clean and safe water in the country.
Thirst for change
Arnel M. Agabe, DILG-10 regional director, said through the program, thousands of families who belong to waterless communities in the region are now enjoying the water supply, thus, thanking the Local Government Units (LGUs) for their dedication in their field of work.
“We laud the efforts and contributions of our LGUs in ensuring that these water resources are properly utilized, and to give their people an opportunity for a better quality of life. Together with our LGUs, we aim to make these projects sustainable over time and will be enjoyed in the coming generations to come,” he said.
The coffee table book and AVP contains accounts of personal stories and testimonies from the people who first-handedly experience the struggle of water scarcity, hardships, and the program helped them surpass the challenging situation and how it provided them with economic opportunities.
Also highlighted in the activity is the photo exhibit showcasing the faces of the beneficiaries.
Storytelling in print, digital
Through the partnership with Peace Crops Incorporated, the launching captured stories from 4 provinces and 10 municipalities in the region that spring hope to communities who struggled their way to better quality of life.
“Our formula for capturing the stories was simple: Find the hugots. Hugots we got to hear from the mayors, engineers, teachers, students, women, fisherfolks, health workers, barangay kapitanes, plantitos and plantitas, religious Imam, entrepreneurs. The whole lot whose lives and living are intertwined with water as an elixir of life,” said Robert dela Serna, executive director of Peace Crops.
Yvette Tolentino-Sunga, DILG-10 assistant regional director, lauded the fruitful works of the storytellers and emphasized the importance of documentation in communicating the government’s efforts in public service.
“We are elated and grateful because the hard work of the matino, mahusay, at maaasahang DILG 10, together with our partners, has come to reality […] and this documentation is a testament that we are doing great and we have shown to the community that the government is working for them,” said Sunga.
Participating members from RHUB are Xavier University–Ateneo de Cagayan (XU), Cagayan de Oro Water District (COWD), Group Foundation, Malaybalay City Water District, Safer River Life Saver Foundation, XU Development Communication Department, and Seeway Incorporated.