Looking back how the poorest municipality in the Philippines bid goodbye to its reputation and how the national government helps in uplifting the lives of the residents in Siayan, Zamboanga del Norte.

The municipality of Siayan in Zamboanga del Norte is the poorest locale and has the most severe form of poverty in the Philippines, according to the 2003 City and Municipal Level Poverty Estimates released by the National Statistical Coordination Board (NSCB).

Under this condition, Siayan’s poverty gap is estimated at 63.2 percent, which means its residents are not only poor but their incomes are also far from the threshold compared with other poor municipalities.

The NSCB noted that many residents of this municipality are poor with incomes that are far from the poverty line. In addition, the poor residents of the municipality are in very severe poverty state. Hence, being first in terms of the three poverty measures indicates that a considerable amount of resources is needed to alleviate poverty in this area.

One of the lingering problems of the populace in barangay Poblacion is the lack of access among households to safe drinking water. This condition resulted in various negative effects, like exposure to water-borne disease, delayed food preparation that contribute to tardiness in reporting to work.

Considering that water is one of the basic needs , it is imperative to look for ways to establish a water system that will address the problem and supply each household faucets direct to their yard and to their kitchen, bathrooms and comfort rooms.

The Local Government Units, through the Sagana at Ligtas na Tubig Para sa Lahat (SaLinTubig) Program of the Department of the Interior and Local Government, was able to establish a potable water system that is sourced from a deep well drilled just within the LGU compound, which makes it very manageable and generally safe. It also passed the test on the presence of any bacteriological or coli form from the Department of Health thru Zamboanga City Medical Center Laboratory.

The expansion of potable water supply system level III has provided an improve and ample supply of potable drinking water with 516 households benefitting in the communities of Sitio Centro, Upper Riverside, Lower Riverside, and Dagao.

With the provision of Php 1.5M, the residents in the area are now enjoying 24/7 water supply that ease their burden and make other task on personal hygiene, laundry, ecological sanitation convenient.

Narcisa T. Lumboan, utility worker in  Siayan Officials and Employees Multi -Purpose cooperative (SOEMPUCO) said that the provision of water has greatly helped them.

“Formerly, before the Salintubig came here, we have difficulty where we can get water. Most of the times, we set out pail and container outside our houses to get water from the rain. On dry season, we have to fetch water from afar.”She said.

“Now that it was already inside our rooms, at any time of the day, we can enjoy its supply. It makes our task easier and efficient. Our children have more time to play and have gone to school earlier, “she added.