The Ateneo Innovation Center (AIC) contributes to mainstreaming sustainability in the development pathways of communities. One such community is the municipality of Pandi in the province of Bulacan. Located 41 kilometers northeast of Manila, its land areas are mostly rice fields that are covered by irrigation systems. The choice of Pandi, specifically residences 1, 2, and 3, was made based on the recommendation of the Water Alliance, in coordination with the Office of the Vice President of the Republic of the Philippines.

Within Pandi are 22 barangays that have little to no access to clean water. They lack proper water management and sanitation for its residents.

In light of this, a research study was conducted from January 2018 to June 2019 by the Ateneo Institute of Sustainability (AIS) in collaboration with the Water Alliance and several other academic departments within the Loyola Schools to determine possible options and technological solutions that will enable sustainable access to water, protection from water-related illnesses and malnutrition for these communities.

Framed in terms of water access and efficiency, policy reform and advocacy, the research and database analysis substantiated the pressing need for additional water supply sources in these areas. As a large unmet demand for water is not addressed by the lone water district establishment, the rest of the community has had to access their water from deep and shallow wells and costly water peddlers.

As the water security divide widens it has become imperative to address the community’s governance of water supply, long-term planning and stakeholding among the residents, the local water district and the Pandi municipal government.