18 May GSCWD Continues to Fulfill its Responsibility to the Public
As a government entity in the sphere of water industry, General Santos City Water District believes that its role in the community goes beyond water distribution and wastewater services.
For over the past years, the District is active in implementing projects and programs that focuses on infrastructure, socio-economic development, environment protection.
It can be remembered that the city council commended GSCWD for its remarkable contribution to the vision of the City for its constituents.
“GSCWD has been into varied services. For these the SP stands proud of you”, said Hon. Shandee Theresa O. Llido-Pestano, the author of the resolution.
Meanwhile, General Manager Arn B. Gellangarin is thankful for the acknowledgement stating this motivates the District to initiate more sensible campaigns & to continue its mission of creating positive change in the city.
“We will continue serving the public especially the disadvantaged communities in any ways we can because I believe that this is not a responsibility to the city but a responsibility to the world”, GM Arn assured.
GSCWD on ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT & ENVIRONMENT PROTECTION
On September 2020, the District launched the CommuniTree Livelihood Program which aims to improve the socio-economic condition of some beneficiaries. Through this, eight (8) beneficiaries from Barangay San Jose received a seed fund amounting to 29,000 pesos which was utilized in the form or shovel, plastic bags, rake and some other tools needed for the propagation of bamboo seedlings.
“In order to assure the generation of income for the said project, the community nursery that we have established will serve as the main supplier of bamboo seedlings for its riverbank rehabilitation activities. Each seedling is purchased at 15.00 per piece”,said GSCWD Watershed Forester Mario Pelobillo.
Recovery and rehabilitation activities were also done in some sections of Makar River under its Adopt-a Riverbank Project which was launched March 2019. As of this date, the District was able to cover 13.6 hectares of land in the said area and was able to plant 5,800 bamboo seedlings with 93.9% survival rate.
GSCWD in PROMOTING EDUCATION
In General Santos City, public schools can’t keep up with the growing population of students. With too many learners for few classrooms, it is always a challenge to accommodate the needs of everyone.
As to date, Department of Education-GSC Division Office recorded a total of 156,104 enrollees from Kinder to Grade 12.
With this, GSCWD donated 8 fully-furnished classrooms to different public schools here. This project is facilitated under the Gender & Development Program with the help of Corporate Planning, Public Information and Community Relations Division.
“This is a small way of supporting the government’s effort to improve the quality of education in the Philippines. We coordinated with the DepEd-GSC Division for the target school-beneficiaries”, said Training & Development Division Manager Hanelle Balansag.
Among the recipients are 2nd Bo. Elementary School, GS National School of Arts & Trades, Nasa Elementary School, Ondok Gawan Elementary School, Fatima High School, Balunto Elementary School, West Elementary School & Bajo Elementary School.
Each classroom building costs an estimated amount of 200,000 pesos including the tables, chairs and bookshelves.
Moreover, GSCWD participated to different Kampanya Eskwela activities since 2015. It is an annual event that supports students through giving educational assistance. Most beneficiaries came from the far-flung schools in Brgy San Jose.
A total of 1,896 students benefitted from the program. They received school supplies, hygiene kits and some goodies to enjoy.
To promote sanitation, the District donated handwashing facilities to 3 public schools in the city on January 2019.
GSCWD on its OUTREACH PROGRAMS
GSCWD conducted various outreach programs through the years. With the concerted efforts of other government agencies & non-government organizations plus the willingness of GSCWD employees, the academe and the private sector, appropriate services to beneficiaries were delivered efficiently and effectively.
A total of 21 advocacy programs were conducted since 2014 up to 2019. Some of its recipients include schools, underserved communities, retirement homes, correctional facilities and many others.
Just recently, GSCWD donated 1.8 million worth of one-story building to Mindanao State University to be utilized as Water Testing Laboratory. It is currently accommodating the Microbiological & Physical Analysis of Water. As agreed, the said university leased its area of 2500 sq.m. to GSCWD for the purpose of construction of the now-called PS 21 that serves the water demand of some households of Barangay Fatima and Barangay Tambler.
Meanwhile, as the whole nation struggles economically in light of the COVID-19, the office suspended its disconnection activities for past due accounts from March 16- June 30, 2020. Posting penalties was also stopped.
Other contributions of the District include donation of 38 fire hydrants to 11 barangays of the city.
For the forthcoming years, GSCWD vows to remain commited to cater the needs of the marginalized sector for safe water, practical education & sustainable livelihood through the help of its stakeholders.
By Lipsy Grace C. Lucas
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