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Philippines

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Philippines

Philippines' water and sanitation crisis

Out of its population of 115 million people, 60 million people (52% of the population) lack access to safe water and 43 million people (37%) lack access to a safe toilet. Despite its growing economy, 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.

In 2010, the government of the Philippines developed a road map to achieve universal water and sanitation services coverage by 2028. Water.org is working to support this goal.

60 million lack access to safe water
Capital: Manila
Population of 115 million
43 million people lack access to a safe toilet
Three young children getting their hair wet while playing under a water spout.

Our impact in the Philippines

With significant water and sanitation needs as well as a strong microfinance sector, the Philippines are an ideal setting for Water.org’s solutions. We started working here in 2014, and together with our partners, we're now reaching more people faster with our WaterCredit solution. We currently work with some of the Philippines’s largest and most respected microfinance institutions, government stakeholders, and international nonprofits, and have reached more than 10.6 million people with access to safe water or sanitation.

10.6 million
people now have access to safe water or sanitation

A vision for future impact in the Philippines

We will continue our work with financial partners to implement WaterCredit. There is significant demand for household connections to existing water infrastructure. Over the next few years, Water.org will partner with utility providers to develop affordable financing options for households to connect to waterlines, as well as access investment capital to build infrastructure that will improve and expand service delivery. We will work with urban, peri-urban, and rural utilities to build their capacity through technical assistance and staff training to help them upgrade infrastructure such as water filtration and treatment systems.

We are also partnering with selected sanitation manufacturers in the Philippines to pilot improved and affordable sanitation products. In doing so, Water.org will help ensure that low-income households have affordable, high-quality options when it comes to maintaining their toilet for years to come.

We will also work with sector stakeholders and the Philippines Central Bank to ease restrictions on water and sanitation lending and increase the uptake of our solution, to help remove even more barriers between people in need and access to safe water and sanitation at home.

Young children playing in a water spout in the Philippines.

Where we work in the Philippines

Journey with us and our co-founders to the Philippines where Water.org is working to empower families in need with access to safe water and improved sanitation.

  • Stories of Impact

    She is not afraid anymore

    With no more uncertainty about the quality of their water or where it will come from each day, Carfel confidently shared, “I am not afraid anymore.” Thanks to the support of our generous donors and funders, Carfel’s worries and fears about the water her family needed have turned to gratitude and comfort because now they have lasting access to safe water at home and the health, hope, and life that flow from it.

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  • Stories of Impact

    From far away to close to home

    Her family used to walk more than one hour to collect the water they needed. From far away to close to home, Christina shortened the distance between her family and the safe water they needed to survive and thrive.

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  • Stories of Impact

    When you have water...

    Without access to water on their property, Resty, along with her three children—ages 14, 9, and 7—woke early each day to make several trips to a neighbor’s home to collect the water they needed. In addition to collecting water from their neighbor’s well, Resty and her children walked to a nearby river to bathe and do laundry. Resty wanted a safe water solution for her family at home and through our work, she was able to give them one.

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See all Philippines stories

Philippines impact statistics

People reached 10.6 million

The number of people who now have access to safe water or sanitation and the health and opportunity they bring.

Capital mobilized (USD) $451 million

Our partners mobilize funds from capital markets to provide water and sanitation loans.

Loans disbursed 2.3 million

Our local partners make loans to people in need for life-changing safe water and sanitation solutions.

Number of active partners 49

We work with financial institutions, service providers, international agencies, and governments to make an impact.

Repayment rate 99%

Every repaid loan means another family in need can get affordable access to safe water at home.

Average loan size (USD) $200

Small loans can help make a big difference by providing long-term solutions for families in need around the world.

Percent of women borrowers 97%

Women are primarily responsible for household water collection and are solving the water crisis for their families.

Households living under $6.85/day 91%

We are committed to helping people living in poverty get access to safe water and sanitation solutions at home.

To help end the water crisis in the Philippines, donate today.

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