19/05/2026
๐๐๐ฐ ๐ฐ๐๐ญ๐๐ซ ๐ฐ๐จ๐ซ๐ค๐ฌ ๐ฉ๐ซ๐จ๐ฃ๐๐๐ญ ๐ญ๐ซ๐๐ง๐ฌ๐๐จ๐ซ๐ฆ๐ฌ ๐๐๐ข๐ฅ๐ฒ ๐ฅ๐ข๐๐ ๐๐จ๐ซ ๐๐ฎ๐ญ๐๐ฎ๐ญ ๐ญ๐ซ๐ข๐๐
In Barangay Butbut Proper, the physical landscape is as challenging as it is beautiful. Access to water has long meant distance, effort, and daily sacrifice. Families have endured long walks to far-off sources to secure a basic need that should be within reach. This scarcity has shaped routines, strained households, and limited opportunities for daily living, turning a simple survival need into a grueling communal labor.
โWhen water systems work, progress flows,โ President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. said, under whose directive the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Cordillera Administrative Region (DENR-CAR) provided the community with Level II Water Works Project (Spring Development).
The project, funded under the Water Resources Management Office (WRMO) established by President Marcos through Executive Order No. 22, comes at a critical moment after the latter underscored water as a vital resource that sustains health, lives, and economic activities.
The Butbut Tribe is one of the many ethnolinguistic groups within the Kalinga province, primarily inhabiting the rugged, mountainous terrain of Tinglayan. Known for their fierce independence and rich warrior history, they are also the keepers of ancient traditions that have survived centuries of colonial influence.
The P2-million project, which will serve 147 households, includes a 31.394 cubic meter intake tank, filtration tank, and main tank. The amount also covers the installation of pipelines and fittings, hauling of materials, and other external works.
Butbut Community Integrated School, which children of the Butbut tribe attend, was the first one to have direct access to the water supply. The school primarily serves the Butbut youth, aiming to empower them by providing a conducive learning environment, and offering quality education necessary for students to thrive and succeed.
School Head Joy Bagninit shared that before the project, learners and teachers had to fetch water from distant sources and often struggled with a limited supply for daily use. โWith the new system in place, the school now benefits from a more stable and accessible water supply that supports sanitation and learning activities,โ she said.
Punong Barangay Pedro Bugawit shared how the project delivered a deeper impact on the tribeโs daily life. โIt reduces the burden of water collection, improves health conditions, and restores time for education, livelihood, and community activities,โ he said. โIn Butbut, water is now closer, bringing with it relief, dignity, and renewed hope for sustainable living.โ
Environment Secretary Juan Miguel Cuna said that through this initiative, DENR reinforces its commitment to provide essential services to vulnerable and underserved communities.. โOur objective is evolving into becoming architects of systems that bridge the gap between resource management and community resilience. We are building a foundation where water security is no longer a daily struggle for upland communities, but a permanent catalyst for their health and progress,โ he stated.
The turnover ceremony was held in the remote Barangay Butbut Proper and was received by the community reflecting gratitude and unity. The event was graced by Assistant Regional Director for Technical Services Benjamin Ventura, representing Regional Executive Director Paquito T. Moreno Jr., together with Project Coordinator, Angelica C. Jacela of the WRMO.
Jacela underscored the importance of collective responsibility in sustaining the project. โThis initiative helps alleviate one challenge at a time faced by the community. Its success is a reflection of unity. We encourage everyone to help maintain the water system and protect the water source,โ she said.
The ceremony was also attended by PENRO Kalinga Francisco Balutoc, CENRO Tabuk Imelda Casiwan, Planning and Management Division Chief Rosita Apilis, Development Management Officer IV Simeon Micklay, and personnel from the regional and provincial offices.
