PEWUP

Building Healthier Schools, One Handwash at a Time!

PEWUP-VEI, in partnership with the AFAS Foundation, proudly celebrates another significant milestone in promoting health, hygiene, and education in Carcar City, Philippines. Carcar Water District has successfully turned over seven (7) handwashing facilities to selected schools and ECCD centers across Carcar City on June 9–10, 2026, under its flagship program, "Reaching Heights, Changing Lives 2.0."

This initiative strengthens access to safe water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) facilities, helping create healthier and more conducive learning environments for children. With the completion of the final batch of beneficiaries, a total of 13 schools and daycare centers have now received handwashing facilities through the program.

The project supports the Department of Education's Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene in Schools (WinS) Program, promoting proper hygiene practices and helping protect the health and well-being of learners.

Through strong partnerships and a shared commitment to community development, CWD, PEWUP-VEI and AFAS Foundation continue to invest in brighter futures—because every child deserves a healthy place to learn, grow, and succeed.

Congratulations, Carcar Water District. We are honored and proud to be part of this significant milestone. Our heartfelt appreciation to Carcar Water District, especially the Pro-Poor Team, VEI, Water For Life through the AFAS Foundation, and the school community for their dedication, hard work, and unwavering support in making this initiative a success. This achievement reflects the power of collaboration, commitment, and a shared vision to improve access to safe and sustainable water services.

Together, we continue to create meaningful and lasting impacts for the communities we serve.

Strengthening People, Leadership, and Organizational Growth

From April 12–30, 2026, STE HR Consultant Lejanne Bosma conducted meaningful HR advisory visits and engagements with Dalaguete Water District, Balamban Water District, and Carcar Water District.

The visits focused on strengthening Human Resource Management practices, enhancing leadership and coaching culture, improving employee development conversations, and supporting the continuous growth of organizational maturity within the water districts.

Through collaborative discussions with management teams and HR personnel, important opportunities were identified in areas such as:
✔️ Structured work and development conversations
✔️ Coaching and feedback culture
✔️ Career development and succession readiness
✔️ Psychological safety and open communication
✔️ Role clarity between HR and managers
✔️ Performance management and capacity development

The sessions emphasized that effective leadership goes beyond operational management — it also means creating safe spaces for employees to grow, communicate openly, and develop their full potential.

We extend our sincere appreciation to the management and staff of the participating water districts for their warm accommodation, active participation, and commitment to strengthening their people-management practices toward sustainable organizational development.

Congratulations, Carcar Water District!

We are proud to be part on this successful turnover of the Solar PV System.

Powering a greener, more efficient future for the community.

NRW Workshop | CEVAWD

“Reducing NRW is not just fixing pipes—it is strengthening leadership.”

Last April 16, 2026, the Central Visayas Association of Water Districts (CEVAWD), in cooperation with PEWUP, successfully conducted the Non-Revenue Water (NRW) Workshop in Balamban Water District entitled “NRW: Beyond Pipes – A Leadership Approach.”

The session was facilitated by Atty. Edward L. Remo, General Manager of Carcar Water District, focusing on moving beyond purely technical solutions and reinforcing leadership, systems, and accountability in water management.

The workshop was attended by participating water districts from Tabuelan, Balamban, Moalboal, Daanbantayan, Toledo City, Metropolitan Cebu, Dalaguete, Bogo, and Carcar—a strong show of collaboration across Central Visayas.

Key Takeaways:
1. Understanding NRW from both technical and leadership perspectives
2. Identifying real losses, apparent losses, and unbilled consumption
3. Applying the IWA Water Balance framework
4. Emphasizing proactive strategies: leak detection, pressure management, and data discipline
5. Strengthening coordination across engineering, commercial, and operations teams

Together, we move from reactive solutions to strategic, sustainable water management—building stronger systems and better service for our communities.

Strengthening Water Meter Management Across Cebu Water Districts

From March 10-28, 2026, STE Roel Van Der Aart from Vitens of the Netherlands has completed the Water Meter Management Mission and Workshop conducted in Toledo, Balamban, and Dalaguete Water Districts.

This initiative focused on improving meter accuracy, data reliability, and operational efficiency—key foundations in reducing Non-Revenue Water (NRW) and ensuring sustainable water service delivery.

Key Highlights:
1. Assessment of production and customer metering systems
2. Identification of gaps in meter accuracy, data management, and policy implementation
3. Field validations and technical evaluations
4. Strengthening of water balance and NRW monitoring practices

Major Insights:
1. Reliable metering is essential for financial sustainability and network stability
2. Many systems face challenges such as aging meters, data inconsistencies, and a lack of calibration
3. Improved meter management can significantly reduce water losses and unlock additional supply

Moving Forward:
The water districts are set to implement priority actions, including:
1. Full inventory and validation of meters
2. Adoption of standardized meter management policies
3. Introduction of smart and real-time monitoring systems
4. Strengthened data-driven decision-making

Together, we are taking vital steps toward efficient, reliable, and sustainable water services for our communities.

Strengthening water systems through data-driven Asset Management!

Last Feb,27-Mar. 6, 2026, two successful technical engagements were conducted by STE Willem Bootsma with Toledo City Water District (TCWD) and Carcar Water District (CWD), focusing on enhancing pipeline asset management and improving overall service delivery.

Throughout the sessions, key areas were discussed and assessed, including asset registration, condition assessment, and prioritization of pipeline maintenance and rehabilitation. Both water districts were introduced to structured, data-driven approaches that support better decision-making and long-term sustainability.

Among the key highlights:
✔️ Adoption of improved data collection methods, including GIS-based tools for accurate asset location and condition monitoring
✔️ Strengthening risk assessment processes to identify critical pipeline segments and prioritize interventions
✔️ Establishment of standardized workflows for data collection, analysis, and reporting
✔️ Integration of Non-Revenue Water (NRW) analysis into operational planning to reduce losses and improve efficiency
✔️ Emphasis on continuous improvement through regular data review and monitoring

The engagement also highlighted the strong commitment of both TCWD and CWD management and staff in advancing their systems, with a shared goal of delivering reliable, efficient, and sustainable water services to their communities.

On March 18, 2026, a successful Steering Committee meeting was held in Bayawan City, Negros Oriental hosted by Ms. Mireia Tutusaus, Regional Project Manager for Asia and Latin America of VEI in the Netherlands. She was joined by Max Paarlberg, Project Trainee from Vitens, Ms. Rodora Gamboa, the new Strategic Advisor of PEWUP–VEI, and representatives from the six (6) focus partner water districts: Bayawan, Ayungon, Carcar, Toledo City, Balamban, and Dalaguete.

The meeting brought together partners to review project progress, especially the Water for Life, discuss ongoing challenges, and map out the next phase of the program, highlighting strong collaboration and a shared commitment to improving water services in local communities.

Key updates included significant achievements in 2025, such as the successful implementation of water access projects, capacity-building initiatives, and innovative solar-powered solutions. Challenges encountered, ranging from natural disruptions to technical and operational constraints, were also carefully addressed, with strategies identified to mitigate their impacts.

Looking ahead, the committee focused on preparations for Phase 3 (2027 onwards), emphasizing strategic planning, efficient resource allocation, and sustained technical support to ensure long-term and sustainable water solutions. To date, 72,264 beneficiaries across focus partner communities continue to benefit from these initiatives.

Together, these efforts reinforce the importance of partnership, innovation, and shared responsibility in building resilient and water-secure communities.

A Milestone for Safe and Sustainable Water Access

On March 17, 2026, the Bayawan Water District successfully conducted the blessing and turnover of the Dawis Water Treatment Facility located in Sitio Niludhan, Brgy. Dawis. This project was made possible through the 2025 Operational Fund of the PEWUP–VEI.

The ceremony was graced by Ms. Mireia Tutusaus, Regional Manager for Asia and Latin America of Vitens Evides International (VEI), along with Bayawan City Mayor Hon. John T. Raymond, Jr., and Brgy. Dawis Barangay Captain Hon. John G. Casipong. Also present were the PEWUP Team, led by Deputy Project Manager Junnah Manugas, and Bayawan Water District General Manager Alma L. Abrasaldo, who will oversee the facility's operation and management.

This new water treatment facility will benefit 171 households or 855 people and that the residents of Brgy. Dawis will have access to safe, clean, and reliable drinking water—marking a significant step forward in improving community health and strengthening water service delivery.

Together, we continue to build a healthier, more resilient future through sustainable water solutions.

Strengthening Investment Planning for Sustainable Water Services

From January 26–30, 2026, STE Roland van Son visited Balamban Water District in Cebu to exchange knowledge on investment planning and management for water utilities.

During the mission, discussions focused on improving how water districts plan and prioritize investments to ensure reliable, sustainable, and high-quality water services for communities. The sessions compared the investment planning approaches of Balamban Water District and Brabant Water, highlighting both shared goals and opportunities for improvement.

Both utilities develop 10-year investment plans and aim to balance performance, risks, and costs in delivering safe drinking water. Through several interactive sessions, participants explored ways to further strengthen the planning process, including:

Quantifying project benefits – including both financial and non-financial impacts such as sustainability and community benefits.

Improving visualization of investment plans – using graphs and data to clearly present priorities and investment focus areas.

Prioritizing projects strategically – considering financial returns and contributions to key goals like reducing non-revenue water, improving supply reliability, and enhancing water quality.

Forecasting annual investment needs – to better understand capital expenditures and funding requirements.

The mission also outlined next steps, such as identifying strategic focus areas, developing tools to calculate project returns, prioritizing investments, and using risk matrices to better evaluate both financial and non-financial benefits.

This collaboration reflects the continued commitment of PEWUP and its partners to strengthen water utility management and support sustainable, resilient, and efficient water services for the communities they serve.