A TOTAL of 1,800 workers and almost 12,000 households in Mindanao are expected to benefit from the water supply project of the International Labor Organization (ILO) and the Government of Japan.
In a statement, the ILO and Japan have committed to finance a community-based water supply development in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (Barmm).
"The new partnership aims to provide jobs and promote peace through improved water supply and sanitation services in post-conflict areas in the Philippines," said ILO Country Office for the Philippines Director Khalid Hassan.
The one-year project has a US$2.6 million (¥300 million) combined allocation from the two camps.
Hassan said the project will organize communities, provide skills training, create jobs, and promote better working conditions.
"Communities will be involved in developing, constructing, operating and maintaining water supply, sanitation and hygiene facilities," said Hassan.
He said the project aims to help poor families in conflict-hit areas that are still relying on unprotected and contaminated water resources.
"Water is life and the project focuses on providing one of the most basic needs -- safe and reliable water supply," said Hassan.
To note, only 53 percent of families have access to safe water in the former Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.
The figure is lower than the national average of 85 percent, based on the 2016 data of the Philippine Statistical Authority. (HDT/VoxPop Philippines)