The government will implement 384 sub-projects under the Sagana at Ligtas na Tubig para sa Lahat (SALINTUBIG) Project in 2019, 48 percent more than the 259 sub-projects budgeted in 2018. This project, which is being administered and monitored by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), provides clean and safe water supply systems to waterless barangays, and municipalities.

“We have set aside PhP1.55 billion in the 2019 budget for these projects which will bring potable water supply to 157 municipalities nationwide. Said amount is 12 percent higher than the 2018 level,” Budget and Management Secretary Benjamin E. Diokno said.

Among the regions, Eastern Visayas will get the largest share with PhP163.5 million for the implementation of 43 water sub-projects, followed by Central Visayas and Cagayan Valley with PhP160.4 million and PhP135.7  million, respectively.

Since the project’s implementation in 2012, more than 500,000 households from 297 municipalities have benefited from the SALINTUBIG Project.

“Clean water and sanitation is one of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) identified by the United Nations. The government fully supports this by ensuring that more funds are invested in this endeavor,”  Secretary Diokno added.

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