For years, families in Sitio Kaging, Sto. Niño, Bamban, Tarlac faced a daily challenge that affected their health, sanitation, and overall well-being: limited access to safe and reliable water.
For many residents, particularly women and children, securing water for everyday household needs was a constant struggle. Today, that reality has begun to change.
On July 28, 2026, residents, local leaders, and development partners gathered to inaugurate a community water system serving 36 families, benefiting more than 120 individuals. The occasion also marked the completion of the six-month Roots to Shoots (RTS) Light: Community Nutrition and Resilience Program.
RTS Light was designed to improve child nutrition, strengthen household food security, and expand access to essential services and resources. Through interventions in nutrition, water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), livelihood development, and sustainable energy, the program addressed several interconnected needs affecting families in Sitio Kaging.
Among these interventions, the new water system fulfills a long-held aspiration of the community. More than a piece of infrastructure, it brings safe and dependable water closer to families and is expected to support better hygiene, improved sanitation, and healthier outcomes, particularly for mothers and children during the critical first 1,000 days of life.
For Sitio Kaging Chieftain Noel Lundang, the milestone also came with a commitment from the community to care for what had been built.
Pinapangako namin, itong tulong ninyo ay pahahalagahan namin.
His words reflected the community’s ownership of the water system and its commitment to sustaining its benefits for future generations.
Around 60 people joined the culmination and inauguration, including community members and representatives from Pilipinas Shell Foundation, Inc. (PSFI), Manila Water Foundation (MWF), World Vision Development Foundation (WVDF), Thaison Builders and Developer, Inc. (TBDI), and the local government of Bamban.
The gathering celebrated more than the completion of a project. It demonstrated what can be achieved when communities, local governments, civil society organizations, and private sector partners bring their resources and expertise together toward a shared goal.
RTS Light also built on earlier development efforts in the area. Before the water system was installed, community members received solar lighting units and livestock to help improve household living conditions and support livelihood opportunities. Together, these interventions strengthened the community’s capacity to meet immediate needs while building greater resilience for the future.
As RTS Light formally concluded, partners reaffirmed their commitment to supporting community development. Shella May Narceda-Umalos, HR Head of TBDI, shared the company’s hopes for the families of Sitio Kaging.
Kami sa Thaison Builder and Developer, hangga’t kaya namin makapagbigay sa kahit paanong paraan, susubukan naming makatulong para sa lahat. Sana mas magkaroon pa ng magandang bukas para sa lahat, para sa mga kabataan, at para sa mga pamilya dito sa Sitio Kaging.
Her message underscored the importance of sustained partnerships in helping communities build healthier, more resilient, and more hopeful futures.
For the families of Sitio Kaging, the water system is turning a long-held dream into an everyday reality. As water now flows through the community, it carries the promise of better health, greater dignity, and a stronger future for generations to come.
