Residents from Barangay San Jose East in Canaman, Camarines Sur lineup to get safe drinking water from the AquaBlock water filtration system deployed by Capital One Philippines and Planet Water Foundation to provide relief to one of the hardest hit communities by Typhoon Kristine.
Capital One Philippines, in partnership with Planet Water Foundation, quickly responded to the call for help of Bicol Region, deploying an AquaBlock emergency water filtration system in Barangay San Jose East, one of five communities in Canaman, Camarines Sur that was most severely hit by Typhoon Kristine (Trami).
The critical deployment is part of Planet Water Foundation’s ongoing disaster relief efforts, aimed at providing immediate access to safe drinking water in the aftermath of the storm.
The AquaBlock system draws water from a deep well and purifies it through a four-stage filtration process. It ensures a safe, reliable drinking water supply to the community, which is part of Canaman town where 90% of the 36,000 residents were heavily affected by the typhoon that submerged homes, farms and commercial areas.
According to reports, Camarines Sur had the highest agricultural damage nationwide estimated at over P1 billion.
“The need for clean water in Camarines Sur is both urgent and essential,” said Capital One Philippines Head of Country Raoul Teh. “Working with Planet Water Foundation to bring the AquaBlock to Barangay San Jose East allows us to directly address this need, giving families a steady supply of safe drinking water during a critical time. Our goal is to provide meaningful, timely support to residents in the hardest-hit areas.”
Community members have since started to experience the benefits of the AquaBlock system. One resident expressed her relief, sharing, “Hirap po ako sa gastusin lalo nang bumagyo. Mahal ang tubig na pang-inom ng dalawang bata ko kaya nakikihingi lang kami ngayon. Malaki po ang tulong (ng AquaBlock) sa pamilya namin kasi palagi na kaming may malinis na tubig.” (Making both ends meet has been difficult, but it is much harder now because of the typhoon. Purchasing clean water for my two young children is expensive, so we’ve just been asking for some for our needs. The AquaBlock will greatly help our family because it gives us a steady supply of safe water.)
The broader partnership between Capital One Philippines and Planet Water Foundation provides underserved, disadvantaged or calamity-stricken communities with access to clean water to protect them from waterborn diseases. To date, 75 water filtration towers have been installed in different parts of the Philippines including public schools so that children no longer have to spend hours collecting water.
Several more towers will be deployed in Quezon, Cavite, Bulacan, Baguio, Camarines Sur, Cebu and Samar in line with the company’s goal to build 100 water towers nationwide by 2025.
Aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, Capital One Philippines prioritizes clean water as key to reducing poverty and promoting education.
“Our partnership is expanding not only across the Philippines but in regions such as Latin America, where our parent Capital One in the US is equally committed to making a difference. This journey is one we look forward to sharing with other partners as we look to support access to safe water globally,” said Teh.
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