Water tanks were installed for ten household beneficiaries of the Bridging Rural Infrastructure Development for Growth and Empowerment (BRIDGE) Project at Purok Upper Ballo to provide households with access to clean water.

The BRIDGE Project, conceived from Central Philippines State University (CPSU) and Philippines Red Cross Bacolod Chapter's partnership, endeavors to provide service for households in far-flung and isolated areas by addressing their inadequate access to clean water, and the lack of sanitation facilities by providing polyethylene tanks which were key to the creation of sustainable rain catchment systems.

 Situated in the mountainous Purok Upper Ballo area, of Barangay Tagukon, Kabankalan City, the household beneficiaries used upland water sources for decades, trekking nearly an hour to reach the said sources while carrying water containers to sustain their domestic needs.

 Following the official turnover last December 2024, ten polyethylene tanks were delivered to Upper Ballo and were installed per household with the help of CPSU’s Production and Enterprise Development Office manpower headed by Director, Dr. Marivic P. Pedrosa; the Extension and Community Services Office, headed by Director, Dr. Jimmy O. Degillo; and the College of Agriculture and Forestry headed by Dean, Dr. Hanzel L. Pedrosa.

 The water tanks are expected to alleviate recipients, particularly the elderly and children, of the dangers of laborious fetching of water in the highlands and encourage beneficiaries to continue engaging in household-based agriculture and other livelihood activities because of the improved clean water-accessibility.

 In addition, the project also aims to minimize health risks related to poor sanitation and lack of facilities; by improving clean water access through providing sustainable catchment systems, CPSU and Ph Red Cross target lower prevalence of water-borne and improper sanitation-borne illnesses, bolstering the well-being of the recipient community.

 Additionally, this may help lower the risk of water contamination in upland natural water sources by reducing domestic activities which could introduced harmful household waste, detergents, and other contaminants in these areas.

 Limiting human interaction and contact with these vulnerable areas is a proactive approach in preserving the quality of upland natural water sources and maintaining the ecological balance in these areas for sustainability.

 Led by University President, Dr. Aladino C. Moraca, and Ph Red Cross Bacolod Chapter Administrator, Ms. Rita Benita Mirasol, the CPSU-Ph Red Cross partnership has materialized its aspiration of creating real societal impact by extending technology that help provide the necessities of the disadvantaged who need it the most.

 Photo captured by: CPSU Product and Enterprise Development Office