The Molatuhan Bajo Water System Association, Inc. traces its roots to a sub-project funded by KALAHI-CIDSS in 2008. With just 7 common tap stands serving 50 households over the last 7 years, it has grown to become a Level III water system, now supplying clean and accessible water to over 300 households and transforming lives in Barangay Molatuhan Bajo, Lopez Jaena, Misamis Occidental.

Registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission and an accredited Civil Society Organization of the LGU, the association is committed to sustaining its operations for more and younger generations to benefit from.

But running the water system has not been easy. Through time, however, the community was able to deal with concerns over effective management, changing community behaviors and challenging maintenance operations.

Theirs is a classic case of crisis paving the way for opportunities to do better. When the Board of Directors voted to remove the president in 2024; Alfie Delicano, who was then Vice President, assumed the President’s role. It was through his guidance, borne out of an unforeseen turn of events, that significant changes took place in the organization.

“We had to impose a strict collection of fees, or else we could not keep up with the cost of maintenance,” says Alfie. Under his prudent leadership, the association acquired additional lot areas for expansion and accessed a donation of Php150,000 from the barangay local government unit and Php500,000 from the municipal LGU intended for new equipment.

Despite limited support and capacity building, the association is proud to continue providing services to the community.

“Our government should look into supporting community-managed water systems because there are still many areas that don’t have access to water,” says Alfie, emphasizing that water is a basic need that the government must strive to provide for its people.

Alfie also envisions the association to transform into a cooperative. Staying true to community-driven development principles, the Molatuhan Bajo Water System Association has its sights focused on a brighter, shared future.