Dug wells and undeveloped springs are one of the usual sources of water in Pitogo. They use the water from these sources for washing, cooking and even drinking. As a result, water borne diseases such as gastro-intestinal disorder, skin diseases and diarrhea are common during rainy seasons. Gastro-intestinal disorders and diarrhea are even among of the ten leading causes of fatality in the municipality and most of its victims are children.

 

 

Pitogo is located in the southernmost part of Zamboanga del Sur and classified as a 5th class municipality. According to the 2000 census, the municipality’s population is 21, 064 and it is distributed among 4,235 households. The main source of livelihood is farming with 85% of its land devoted to agriculture. Farming is the livelihood of 80% of the population. Residents from the coastal areas even supplement fishing with farming.

 

The Municipality of Pitogo became a municipality on July 16, 1978 with its first set of elected officials headed by Hon. Doroteo Garban. Since its founding, Pitogo has been the recipient of several government infrastructures that has benefited its populace.

 

Last 2014, the municipality became a recipient of the Grassroots Participatory Budgeting Process (GPBP) – Water and the municipality was granted with Php 1, 960, 000.00 budget allocation from the Department of the Interior and Local Government. It is through this program that the municipality of Pitogo developed its water system from Level II to Level III. The existing water supply ran by the Local Government Unit is no longer sufficient. Added is the reality that the water system has been constructed a while back causing its pipeline to be brittle. The pipe sizes can no longer be utilized since maintenance and operation can no longer be supported by the municipality’s budget allocation. 

 

With the completion of the water supply system rehabilitation and expansion, three (3) barangays – Punta Flecha, Poblacion and Sugbay Dos can directly benefit from the newly completed water system. They will no longer fetch water from unsafe sources. Time can now be allotted for other activities instead of hauling and fetching water since water will already be available right within their homes. 

 

The project was completed last January 30, 2015. Since then, residents from three (3) barangay which directly benefitted from the project has been enjoying the resource of water in the comforts of their own. The Local Government Unit of Pitogo also hopes that they can extend this service to the whole municipality in the future.