Altavas, Aklan
Got Agua?, an international water charity, recently broke ground on its first project in the province of Aklan. Although this is not the first of its kind in the Philippines, this is the pioneering project partnership between Got Agua? and Habitat for Humanity, a relationship spearheaded by Got Agua? President Rocco Puno. “The two international organizations share a common mission in uplifting the lives of Filipinos – there are plenty of synergies in working together, and we hope this is the first of many projects”, he said.
The project is located in Brgy. Man-up in Altavas, Aklan, and primarily benefit an Aeta community that was displaced during Typhoon Haiyan. Habitat for Humanity will deliver the homes they had lost, while Got Agua? will donate funds for the installation of jetmatic hand pumps, providing the community with clean, potable water. In order to put this together, representatives of both organizations worked with Fr. Geoffrey Jimenez of Holy Child Parish, who will oversee all activities involving construction and installation.
This collaborative model is a hallmark of the Got Agua? strategy: partner with local communities to provide local solutions for the neighborhood’s water needs. This strategy stems from the core principles of the organization, which believes that access to clean, potable water is a right for all human beings.
While Got Agua?’s mission is not complete until all have access to safe drinking water, it has made strides toward its goal, completing 32 projects for 18,000 people in India, Africa, and the Philippines.
Despite its global focus, the organization will continue to prioritize the Philippines for its new projects, according to Got Agua? President Rocco Puno: “My involvement in this organization has always been for the betterment of my countrymen, and with our new partnership with Habitat for Humanity, we believe we’re on our way to changing thousands of lives”.
