The Improvement of Buhatan Water System was a project implemented by the municipality of Sto. Domingo Albay.  It was funded under the RP-Japan Increase of Food Production or the Second Kennedy Round (KR-2) 20th Tranche Program.  It has a total project cost of PhP215,000, of which PhP185,500 is the national government assistance and PhP29,200 represents the LGU counterpart. 

The project aimed to improve and expand the service coverage of the Level II water system in the coastal barangay of Buhatan, Sto. Domingo, Albay.  The expansion of the system required developing additional water source, which include construction of an in-take tank, installation of new pipelines of approximately 2 kilometers in length, and provision of 3 units communal faucets.  The source is situated in the neighboring barangay of  Bacacay, Albay.

The project has institutional component that is the reorganization of the Barangay Waterworks System Association (BWSA) to ensure the operation, maintenance, and sustainability of the water system.

The implementation of the project was done by contract.  The project was completed in the middle of January 1999.  The contractor, with the help extended by the barangay officials and residents, completed the project in 33 days, which is 12 days ahead of schedule. 

Actual physical accomplishment of the project include:

• Construction of a concrete intake tank (1.20 x 1.20 x 1.50 meter with 0.50 x 0.50 meter manhole);

• Installation of pipelines and accessories:

1. 216 LM G.I. pipes 2” and 1.5” in diameter

2. 1,302 LM P.E. pipes 1” in diameter

3. 260 LM P.E. pipes 1” in diameter (additional materials provided by the barangay from the CY 1999 BDF). Actual accomplishment on pipe installation is about 117 percent.

• Installation of 10 units public faucets as compared to the original target of three units representing 333 percent accomplishment.

• Installation of two new additional public faucets with funding coming from Comprehensive Integrated Delivery of Social Services (CIDSS) to augment the water service.

The Barangay Captain of Buhatan together, with the other officials, negotiated with the landowner and the Barangay Council of Tambongon, Bacacay, Albay for water rights and right-of-way for the project.

During project construction, the contractor provided only 3 skilled workers and the other local laborers from the beneficiaries were hired thereby providing employment to barangay residents.  In order to hasten the construction, each of the barangay officials donated a two-day work and each of the local laborers also donated a one-day labor.

Towards the end of the project, the barangay government provided supplementary appropriation in the amount of P22,100.00 for the procurement of additional pipes and faucets to extend the water system up to the vicinity of Buhatan Elementary School. The said fund was sourced from the Barangay Development Fund (BDF).

The barangay officials also contributed P100.00 each from their honoraria, as seed money for the maintenance of the project, generating a total amount of P1,000.00 which is now in the hands of the Barangay Treasurer.

Before the turnover of the completed project, the BWSA was reorganized and designated a system's caretaker.  To ensure sustainable operation and maintenance of the system, the Barangay Council adopted an ordinance providing for the collection of P2.00 monthly maintenance fee from the beneficiaries.