The project in Barangay Villahermosa is about 85% complete. The water tank has been fully constructed, as has the chlorination box. Additionally, community members are 75% done completing the strenuous job of laying and burying the distribution pipeline. All 24 tapstands and meter boxes have been completed, and 16 of the 18 valve boxes have been completed. The community has also completed rehabilitation of two existing water tanks, which are now operational. A water committee has been chosen in the village, and from the water committee members have been chosen to monitor the community tapstands. Each tapstand will have a monitor who is responsible for collecting fees for water usage as well as maintaining the tapstand itself. These people are currently being trained in repair operations, so that should the tap or the water source break, it can be fixed relatively easily and it will not be abandoned.

Several training sessions have been conducted with the community members. One member from each household attended the training sessions. Some of the training sessions have focused on team building skills, which have helped during the construction process. Other trainings have focused on handwashing and other hygiene techniques, and proper sanitation usage. On day, staff members from our PO took the community members on an educational tour of the village to learn about the places in the community that were at risk for spreading disease and ways to prevent it.

The community is working on constructing household pit latrines. The community health organizers decided to hold a contest to encourage community members to participate. As part of this contest, tapstand clusters will compete to have the cleanest environment, including drainage, compost, toilet, etc. Before the completion of the project is complete, there will be an evaluation to determine the communities with acceptable facilities. Construction of the water system will also continue. Our partner is currently working with the community to complete the spring catchment system, and hope to complete it within the next six months.

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