Residents in Barangay Old Capitol in Quezon City in the Philippine capital fetch water for drinking, washing, and taking a bath from a water well in their community on March 21, 2023, a day before the World Water Day observance. Others rely on commercial water refilling stations for drinking water.
Access to safe drinking water in many areas in the capital are compromised due to congested and exposed water lines and pipes.
Data show that out of the estimated 110 million people, 57 million Filipinos (52 percent of the population) lack access to a reliable, safely managed source of water, and 43 million people (39 percent) lack access to safely managed household sanitation facilities.
The Philippines faces significant challenges in terms of water and sanitation access. The country is rapidly urbanizing, and its growing cities struggle to provide new residents with adequate water and sanitation services. (Photos by Jire Carreon)
