The Barangay Captain of Maoyon, Hon. Earl Edrene Dilla, opens the fire hydrant, alongside the PPCWD BOD Chairman, Atty. Winston T. Gonzales and GM Walter J. Laurel.

On April 17, 2026, the Puerto Princesa City Water District (PPCWD) marked a significant milestone with the inauguration and blessing ceremony of the Maoyon Water System Project. This facility is a critical lifeline, currently supplying clean and safe water to three northern barangays: Brgy. Maoyon, Brgy. Maruyugon, and Brgy. Lucbuan.

The event was graced by the PPCWD Board of Directors, spearheaded by Atty. Winston T. Gonzales, together with Dir. Edgardo A. Palanca, Dir. Richard B. Arambulo, Dir. Melrose O. Tan, and Dir. Melinda T. Callejo. Also with the PPCWD General Manager Walter J. Laurel, alongside Brgy. Maoyon Punong Barangay Hon. Earl Edrene G. Dilla. Highlighting the inclusive nature of this project, Batak Tribe Leader Nestor Saavedra and Tagbanua Tribe Leader Felix Saavedra were also in attendance, cementing a good partnership between the water district and the ancestral domain guardians.

Engineering Resilience: Overcoming Typhoon Tino

The journey to this inauguration was not without its hurdles. The original components of the Maoyon Water System, which included infiltration galleries alongside distribution and transmission pipelines, suffered severe devastation during the onslaught of Typhoon Tino last year.

Faced with the threat of prolonged water interruptions, the PPCWD Engineering Services Department swiftly pivoted to an innovative alternative. To alleviate the situation and ensure continuous service, the team established a temporary, highly effective facility downstream. Engr. Nimrod M. Sagun, Acting Engineering Services Department Manager, explained the system and its components of the Maoyon Water System Project.

Engr. Sagun explains the background and design of the Maoyon Water System Project.

This resilient setup utilizes a multi-barrier approach to guarantee water safety, featuring:

  • Multimedia Filters: To effectively remove suspended solids and turbidity from the raw water.
  • Chlorination Treatment Process: To eliminate harmful bacteria and pathogens.
  • UV Disinfection Facility: An advanced final polishing step to ensure the water meets strict national drinking standards before reaching households and communities.

Through this rapid technical intervention, water supply in the northern barangays remained uninterrupted, transforming a potential crisis into a testament to PPCWD’s operational agility.

A Landmark Agreement with Indigenous Communities

Tagbanua (Mr. Saavedra) and Batak (Mr. Saavedra) Tribe LeaderTagbanua and Batak Tribe Leader

Beyond the pipes and water facilities, the success of the Maoyon Water System is rooted in community collaboration. The realization of this project was made possible through multiple dialogues and the invaluable contribution of the local indigenous groups in securing necessary permits for the use of their ancestral domains.

These discussions culminated in a historic Memorandum of Agreement (MOA), outlining a symbiotic relationship designed to protect the watershed while uplifting the indigenous communities.

PPCWD’s Commitments to the Community

Under the MOA, the water district is dedicated to going beyond water provision. PPCWD’s responsibilities include:

  • Infrastructure Support: The construction of a dedicated Tribal Hall for the Batak Tribe.
  • Local Employment: Hiring a dedicated dam caretaker directly from the local tribes to oversee the facility.
  • Community Outreach: Coordinating with Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and National Government Agencies (NGAs) to bring outreach programs to the tribal groups in Brgy. Maoyon during anniversary celebrations, whenever feasible.

The Tribes as Watershed Stewards

In return, the indigenous communities will play a pivotal role in environmental preservation. The tribes will serve as the official watchmen of the Brgy. Maoyon watershed. Utilizing their intimate knowledge of the land, they are tasked with safeguarding the area, reporting any illegal or destructive activities, and protecting the very resources that sustain their ancestral home and the city’s water grid.

Looking Forward

The Maoyon Water System Project stands as a prime example of what can be achieved when technical innovation meets genuine community partnership. As the water flows to the northern barangays, it carries with it a promise of sustainable management, mutual respect, and a shared vision for a water-secure Puerto Princesa.