Pristine, remote and unspoilt, Looc is touted by UNESCO for its biological diversity. Classified as endangered due to its distinct landmass, one of Looc’s coastal villages is Agkawayan, a fifth class municipality and disadvantaged community of farmers and fishermen.
The Agkawayan Elementary school is the site of Rotary Melbourne’s Water Sanitation project WASH, where a three cubicle toilet block will be constructed for girls, boys and persons with disability (PWD), complete with wash stations.
This will assist in health promotion and prevent students, community members to acquire life threatening viruses. Long time partner Rotary Club of Lubang Island will implement the project with strong collaboration with the community. Melbourne Rotary invited contributions from the local government, school, Department of Health and Water Board authorities which ensure project sustainability. Achieved so far were financial sourcing from above partners, community mobilisation, screening of contractors, full project design inclusive of building and water path pipeline, water harvesting, water sourcing, connectivity and signed MOU agreements with DEPED and local government.
There is community involvement under the sweat equity for food program, and children get to choose the color of materials! Overall the outcome is improvement of water supply, sanitation and hygiene, as well as child health with disease prevention. Overall, a true transformation that creates hope.
