Ram Pump in Biao, Palimbang

Amazed, Manobo children gathers around a tap stand to drink water from a newly installed water  system in Biao, Palimbang Sultan Kudarat. Cold and fresh spring water is propelled up to the top of the mountain right where they are, through a smart technology developed by AID Foundation called Ram pump. For the first time, they have access to water without the long and breakneck journey. No need for children and women to walk half to an hour just to get water. “ Dati, wala’y ligo-ligo ang mga bata, karon kabalo ka, tatlo na ka beses sila nagaligo”( before children can hardly take a bath, now children bathe three times a day, says a project staff.

The indigenous people community, located 450 meter above sea level and 16 kilometers from the highway receives water system through the lobby efforts of the Pasali technical group to the local government unit and to the Department of Health. The community is reached out after a Cholera outbreak back in 2010 that killed mostly children. Now, 60 families have potable water nearby and construction of one more water system is ongoing in Poblacion (center) of Palimbang by the Tekboys composed of trained  tri-people youth.

---