Project Cost : $ 2,390 Beneficiaries : 975
It has been said that clean water is essential to human life. It is also necessary for the continued existence of a small boarding school in Southern Leyte, Philippines.
Bato Adventist Elementary School used to have a hand-powered shallow well pump put up by the local government to supply the water needs of the school populace. Since the source was not that deep, the water extracted was sometimes contaminated with disease-causing germs from the earth’s surface. There were times when pupils got sick with diarrhea. Parents stopped sending their kids to the school and transferred them elsewhere. The number of enrollees dwindled that it could no longer sustain the school’s operation. The local school board decided to close the school for good if the perennial problem could not be solved. To avoid the school’s closure, a safe water source should be in place before the opening of the school year 2009-2010 to entice the pupils back to the school. But the school's finances were insufficient.
ASM came to the rescue. It approved to support the construction of potable water source in the school vicinity in partnership with the East Visayan Conference (EVC) of SDA and the local SDA church. ASM sent substantial amount for the construction. Engineers, plumbers, and volunteers helped in the project. In less than a month, the project was completed.
Surprisingly, the pipes which were drilled through the ground hit a confined aquifer at 125 feet deep causing it to flow freely with naturally fresh and clean H2O. Instead of constructing just a potable water source, a complete water system was built. A permanent structure was erected to cover a small water reservoir. A pressurized water tank was set up behind the school dormitory. A manual pump was installed to be used in case of electrical power interruptions. Pipes connected from the free flowing source were installed around the campus to distribute water to the church building, the classrooms, and the dormitory.
On June 14, 2009, the Bato water system was inaugurated. The ceremony was attended by more than a hundred residents from the surrounding community; participated by EVC personnel led by its president Pastor Ben Mahinay, Jr.; and witnessed by ASM representatives coming all the way from Texas- Pastor Jerry Espina and family, Rey Sto. Nino and family, Semy Calagos and family.
A free dental mission followed after the blessing ceremony serving fifty one patients. Few days later, some precious souls accepted Jesus, The Living Water through baptism done in the small reservoir.
With the clean water system, pupils from distant places occupied the dormitory. And more pupils attended this school year practically giving life to the once dying school.