The Municipality of Santa Maria, Laguna lies in between Rizal and Quezon Provinces which is 82 kilometers away from Manila. It is also known as the “Rice Granary of Laguna” because of its main agricultural product which is palay that supplies the vast population of the province and the adjacent municipalities.

Early in 2010, there is an existing water system in the town but due to non-participation of the community, the said system was easily replaced. The town was on the brink of water shortage which cause a massive social failure in the area. The people suffered and think on how they can meet their needs. But when the Carolino Administration took place on the government, big change has been seen. The water supply in the different springs on the town were improved and it not just only supplies the Poblacion areas, but also in other barangays in the town. The history of water supply service and the fascinating story of making things happen unfolded below.

Today, a lot of changes could be noticed by just looking around. From barangay up to poblacion roads are mostly concreted to provide convenience and to improve the productivity of commerce in the town. Many infrastructure projects were being implemented. The town is assured that as far as environmental sanitation and protection is concerned, everything will be in place.

SANTA MARIA RICH AND BEAUTIFUL…

Introducing a metered system to each service connection for water consumed is something really new to an agricultural  municipality endowed  with rich natural resources, both land and water.  I say rich because a spring source about 4.5 kilometers from where community life began, later on developed into a population center served by a gravity-type system of water supply. So rich that the water service needed to flow uncontrolled or else household pipes get busted enough to drench the whole house down the yard. This water supply system established in the  mid 1940s has dictated the pattern of local settlement growth.

Optimising the opportunity, plant production has then become the primary livelihood in the municipality, with livestock raising intensifying water use. Both contributed much to the economic prospects that go with the Food Security Program of the government.

PAINS OF GROWING UP

Dwellings raced to get as close as possible to the main pipes, spreading in all directions. For the thirty years that followed, this steady growth across 200 hectares of built-up urban area, culminated to finding almost everybody in poblacion up till wee hours of the morning, just to get their buckets filled for domestic use of the day.  Not long after that, those who can afford the cost of booster pumps to secure water flowing full at the best of pressure through their private taps, prevailed over the gravity –run network. As expected this works to the detriment of the neighbourhood. The worst extends downstream affecting the government center and 52.04% of the total urban population.

Competing with domestic use in poblacion, are the industry of backyard hog raising and some commercial farms put up right at the upstream phase of the network, which happens to be the outskirts of the population center.

The terms of development have now come to the fore. That which has normally been dominated by roads for agricultural reasons, is suddenly taken over by the increasing water demand for an ever growing population.  Not only does it end in the agenda of the mothers taking the biggest share of this daily hardship, but complaints rang loud and clear as principled women began holding public office. The emerging issue of water need has naturally become a challenge to every leadership.

GETTING OUT OF THE SHELL

Several administrations took on the heavy load.  I salute them. Political adversaries, however, could also defeat the noble goals to deliver the best. The role of the community in fostering development matters the most, for it is needed to be yoked to the leader.  I don’t know how much of mathematics have influenced our lives.  But I realize there is always an equal sign in every equation. In serving the public, there could always be that notion of power… who has it and who takes it.

As a mother running a household like those principled women, I know how hard it is to get thirsty before a waterless tap, much more stand a pipeless house. What if fire broke out? When my husband responded to the call of public service, I made sure that water supply development topped his platform of governance.  It was not a promise to make a win, but a vow to meet the challenge, not for water alone,  but I want  to prove that equal sign in the equation.  I know it is that which would surely keep me going.

When my husband, Mayor Tony, was sworn into office on June 30, 2010, I recognized determination in his calmness. I never attempted to stop him and his team not even to rest awhile.  We all wanted things done.  I was there every step of the way, listening and keeping things in my heart.

BAPTISM OF FIRE VIA WATER

After a thorough study of how life goes on in the municipality, the so called local socio-economic conditions, we carried out our plans  and started work at Brgy Cambuja: To build a new water supply system with the end in view of conquest.  The site 2.72kms away from the end cap of the long corroded extremity of the poblacion service area, about 60.0563 hectares ( Brgy Uno and Brgy Kayhacat), would strategically open the corridors of development at the southern portion of the municipality.

Taking into consideration the sentiments and resentments of the locals about sharing the water they already have, we decided the project must start at ground zero.  We did not take opposing views negatively, rather we used them as a compass in making decisions.  Building a new network that is ready for the taking of every household would need no explanation.  That was our offer at the onset of the term and not long afterwards the funds from the Department of Agriculture came, in the amount of P15M, augmenting the local funds.

As planned we started work at Brgy Cambuja, where we collected the low-lying spring water sources to a sump tank with a 15-hp electro-mechanical equipment to keep the water going throughout the new transmission line.  Alongside this phase, we did the trenches for pipelaying.  Every milestone of the day gives shape to the determination we share in our hearts.

A study was done alongside to determine the cost of service in order to establish a viable water supply system. Responsible consumption redounds to conserving our resources.  Here we introduced what a fair share means and how it is shared.  The metering program was well accepted by the people living in the extremity, Brgy. Uno & Kayhacat. We used to call them desert barangays. To regulate the consumption and magnify wastage sounded reasonable and just and fair to Mother Earth. We should keep the system functional to last.  Consultations among our department heads and with experts on the field of water utility operations were held to come up with the most responsive water rates.  Enactment through an ordinance required the conduct of a public hearing for water tarrifs.  The affected community of Brgy Uno and Brgy Kayhacat joined by households of the host barangay Cambuja, long dry as the desert, unanimously agreed to all the rules and guidelines in accessing the water service of the LGU.     

A DEBUT BUT THERE WAS NO TIME CELEBRATING

I have this firm belief,.. who could go wrong in resolving the need before you,  when you have a good team behind you. All steps done in a matter of three (3) months, and we got to commission the lines of our new water system. We could not wait to see the results of our work.  I was born 3 decades after the 1940s. Only destiny brought me here to Santa Maria, but the water story of the past came back to life. The Cambuja Water Supply needed to be turned off every night, lest transmission lines be busted.  Clients came pouring in.

Sooner than projected, we have covered the desert concessioners. Proving it all is the consistent 100% collection efficiency of the Treasury Office.  Expressly, the regulated consumption proved the capacity of the municipal government to expand towards the vicinity of the government center. What a feat, but there was no time celebrating it.

That was phase 1, we call the Cambuja Loop.  I realize we could not stop. Why should I have thought of it when it has been my fondest hope? Going technical the Comprehensive Land Use Plan (CLUP) located for us the settlements and projected trends.  Working out this vision of the municipality from its southern portion, we headed northwards. Fresh from a feat, we knew it would be the way back to Macasipac Spring, heeding the call of the watching concessionaires, who upon seeing the results, were no longer happy with the service they were once reluctant to share. They began to compare it with what is afforded by the Cambuja Loop. Needless to tell the story and what transpired next.  We again set to work, but this time, for progress.  

NEW LIFE BEGINS AT 40s

Phase 2, the  Macasipac Loop needed more funds because it would replace transmission lines with a 5-km run and a total rehabilitation of the intake box for the legendary spring source.  With the replacement of the old leaky distribution pipes, the total cost amounted to P25M.  Again came financial assistance from several national government agencies (Department of Agriculture, Department of Interior and Local Government) with the local funds now coming from the income derived by the LGU from its water sales. Thus, the rebirth of the Macasipac Loop.

What then of the backyard hog raisers and commercial farms at the upstream phase?  The growth of settlements displaced these livelihood, owners of which voluntarily  relocated to more appropriate sites.  Today the Macasipac Loop serves 1783 HH, across the rest of poblacion namely Brgy. Tres, Brgy. Cuatro, Brgy Bagong Pook, Brgy. Talangka, Brgy. Adia, Brgy. Macasipac, all because they witness how their sentiments and resentments could be displaced simply by our courage.

Looking back, I realized change has taken long to get into some of the hearts of our community, but growth no matter how difficult it gets, surely happens.  We only need to wait because there is always Providence.

GOLDEN YET BLOOMING

But it did not end there in Brgy Macasipac.  The clamor seemed highly contagious and not long before Macasipac Loop was over that we committed water supply expansion to its adjoining rural barangays.  This came with the  acquisition of a lot, where the spring source is located.  Hard on our finances, we acquired the property through loan as road development & relocation program shared top priorities.

We call it Buhay Spring. Buhay, being the root word of Mabuhay as in Mabuhay Deseret Foundation, a very happy coincidence precisely because everything is Providence.  This Buhay Spring has a discharge capacity capable of servicing another 1,188 concessionaires across inland barangays namely Brgy. Tungkod, Brgy. Inayapan, Brgy Coralan, Brgy Calangay.   However, the distant location makes for the friction losses requiring electro-mechanical intervention to fully serve the mushrooming settlements across these inland rural areas.  Meanwhile, there is valving of laterals applied to direct water supply at designated portion of the network on pre-arranged schedule. Still a work in progress.

I could not help but be more than grateful when other barangay chairmen approach me for help.  This time, they are surrendering their existing waterworks operations , turning over their facilities for rehabilitation. They have come to believe as I do, that a regulated water supply translates to a responsible water consumption sustaining the system for future generation.  So we have started work with Brgy. Cabooan aimed at 400 concessioners and Brgy Bagumbayan for 502 concessioners.

GOLDEN BUT STRONGER

Having covered 19 barangays out of 25, it is high time to move to the highlands. These are six (6) in all and like the twelve (12) inlands, are separated by large tracts of farms.  For a 4th income -classification of municipality like Santa Maria, Laguna, water projects such as this could come as next to what is seemingly impossible.  But glad there is the Providence to help me make things happen. The quality life envisioned by the CLUP should be worked out like a mother giving her strongest pull of the bow for the arrow. Truly it is only when raising a family that a man learns to live purposefully.

Life in the highlands is more difficult. Lack of services can sometimes quell a man’s dream.  No road, and one may just walk around the farm. No school and one may opt to limit interacting and choose to live in a shell.  But no water, he does everything to find one.  Surely nobody wants to go on with want, much more go on without meeting the basic needs himself.

We started work with rehabilitation of spring source in Brgy Laurel and now we are on pipelaying stage to bring water service to the biggest settlement located in Brgy. J. Santiago. Another source would be developed defying a distance of 4.65kms to get to the center of Brgy Parang ng Buho, our link to the highlands, where the Marcos Highway would take us to adjoining provinces and the National Capitol Region.  The work needs P12M more to finish the physicals for these two barangays.

NO BOUNDS… NO SUNSET

I thought I could sit back and relax, but just beginning to think of it, the farther it gets.   There is, therefore, no end to this kind of work - meeting the needs of our people. To see them live life and  help them fulfil their dreams.  Oh, I just love the technicals of governance.

Looking back, there are only memories of a long journey made possible by determination; a rough road made easy by courage; and strides made sure by optimism. It took eleven (11) long years, but it has been worth the while and most importantly, worth the wait. It is worth the while being an instrument of stewardship. This is my advocacy.  It is worth the wait, to make a difference. That is my legacy.

I believe that God in His own time has always provided His people with leaders who step up to face the challenge. Leaders who build on where the others left off. Not for namesakes alone, but for that equal sign in the equation, that is Trust. Live up to it… is to honour it.  Take care of it … to keep it.

The Scripture says “All things work together for good to them that love God”… so I never ever lose faith that there would always be good hearts sharing the same conviction that we have, and, willing to be the equal sign in this equation, that is TRUST.