March 22 is World Water Day… but in COWD water has been our main concern throughout the five decades of our existence as an institution.

This year’s theme is “Water for Peace.”

When we cooperate on water, we create a positive ripple effect – fostering harmony and building resilience to shared challenges. We must act upon the realization that water is not only a resource to be used and competed over – it is a human right, intrinsic to every aspect of life.

COWD on its part celebrated this day by giving foldable fans and IEC materials to one hundred (100) concessionaires in the Administrative Building in Corrales. Meanwhile, as part of its CSR programs, PR personnel alongside Engineering visited partner barangays/institutions namely Lumbia, Camaman-an and Malasag Elementary School in Cugman to deliver water tanks and some IEC materials relative to water conservation and rainwater harvesting. It was an ample avenue as well to discuss pertinent matters regarding their water supply concerns.

This World Water Day, we all need to unite and use water for peace, laying the foundations of a more stable and prosperous tomorrow.

The National Women’s Month Celebration has become a platform to spotlight women’s accomplishments and address ongoing and emerging issues related to women’s empowerment and gender equality.

Grounded on the objective of transforming culture toward a more equal and inclusive future, it echoes the target outcomes in the updated Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment Plan for 2019-2025 towards transforming gender norms and culture.

In COWD, the vision extends to incorporating gender mainstreaming in the bureaucracy - men joining the cause for equality, establishing a solid framework to support and protect women, children, persons with disabilities, Indigenous Peoples, Muslims, and those with diverse Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, and Expression (SOGIE).

Last March 8, four hundred (400) female concessionaires were able to receive hygiene kits, IEC materials, and tokens which were given simultaneously in all offices (Corrales, Kauswagan and Tin-ao). This is our simple way of showing extra care and appreciation to all the women and their pivotal role in the society.

Happy Women’s Month, Women and Everyone!

Since today is World Environment Day, we donated plastic bottle recycling bins to two barangays: Nazareth & Brgy. 29, and what's more, we'd like to share with you how plastic recycling can help the environment!

1. Energy conservation- Recycling actually consumes less energy than producing new, virgin polymers.

2. Reducing demand for raw materials- Plastic recycling reduces the need to extract new, raw materials from the earth as it reuses the stuff that’s already processed and protects natural resources. This can help reduce emissions of heat-trapping gases into the atmosphere. It also prevents adding more rubbish to landfills.

3. Reduced fossil fuel consumption- Plastic production uses a lot of oil. Although recycling also uses fossil fuels, it’s significantly less than the amount used when creating new plastics.

4. CO2 emission reduction- Reduced oil consumption also means reduced emissions of CO2 and other greenhouse gases that are produced while new plastics are being made. Additionally, recycling reduces pollution that is caused by burning waste.

5. Reduced landfill use- If more plastics are being recycled, it means less are ending up in landfills. Another benefit is that fewer plastics in landfills means less emission of common landfill gases, like carbon dioxide and methane. Both of these gases cause environmental damage.

6. Promotes a sustainable lifestyle- By recycling plastic, we’re aware of the dangers that the overconsumption of plastic can have. Just having this information is important, so we know the impact that our habits can have on the planet and can make the right changes in our daily lives.

COWD assists our government hospitals through donation of items that support patient care especially in the hospital's COVID-19 Wards.

• Northern Mindanao Medical Center (NMMC) - portable suction machine
• J.R. Borja General Hospital (JRBGH) - industrial ceiling fans

As the world celebrates WORLD WATER DAY every 22^nd day of March each year, this year’s theme ACCELERATING CHANGE to solve the water and sanitation crisis is very aptly coined as water affects us all, hence, everyone needs to take action. COWD being a water service provider took action by donating 450-litre plastic water tanks to three (3) barangays that may be used for water storage to supplement supply requirements particularly in times of water service interruptions.

In consonance with COWD’s  effort of providing quality water service to its community by forging a collaborative partnership with the barangays, representatives from COWD’s Public Relations/Information Division of the Management Services Department  and the Engineering Department took note of the water supply concerns of the barangays directly from their Punong Barangays themselves, namely, PB Maximo C. Allorin of Barangay Iponan, PB Norbel S. Saa of Barangay Macabalan, and PB Marlon L. Tabac of Barangay Gusa.  Resolution of said concerns shall be given due action by COWD.

Women’s Month in the Philippines is celebrated every March. Since 1988, Filipinos have dedicated the entire month to celebrating the achievements of the country’s women and raising awareness about domestic violence, sexism, and other hardships that women face daily. This event includes celebrating International Women’s Day, promulgated by the United Nations as a time for people worldwide to discuss civil and human rights and equality for women. In the Philippines, the observance of the National Women’s Day on March 8 of every year is anchored on the following legal mandates:

·Proclamation No. 224, series of 1988, declaring the first week of March each year as Women’s Week and March 8 as Women’s Rights and International Peace Day;  

·Proclamation No. 227, series of 1988, providing for the observance of the Month of March as Women’s Role in the History Month; and

·Republic Act No. 6949 of 1990, declaring March 8 of every year as National Women’s Day;

The 2023 National Women’s Month Celebration marks a juncture in the advancement of women’s rights as it launches a new recurring theme from this year to 2028: WE for gender equality and inclusive society. It sparks a renewed commitment to the advocacy and banks on the gains achieved during the 2016-2022 theme, WE Make CHANGE Work for Women, which emphasized the need for compassionate and harmonized networks towards gender equality and women’s empowerment. https://pcw.gov.ph/national-womens-month/

The Cagayan de Oro City Water District (COWD), being a Government Owned and Controlled Corporation, has long been actively supporting women empowerment in the work setting. Over the years, female employees have been given equal opportunities in all aspects as with men employees in the district. As COWD has always been a gender-responsive organization, it supports the observance of the National Womens Day by enjoining all its employees to wear any purple-colored clothes on March 8, Wednesday, to manifest COWD’s solidarity to the campaign -- as the color purple officially signifies justice, dignity and loyalty to the cause.

To celebrate womenfolk for their immense value to society, COWD through the Public Relations and Information Division distributed hygiene kits and flyers as IEC materials to women of each of the four partner barangays in the poblacion area namely 5, 9, 11 and 12. Each hygiene kit contains purple wash cloth, sanitary pads, wet wipes, germ protecting soap, ethyl alcohol and 2023 Women’s Month Flyer. Relevant facts about women and the importance of celebrating women were highlighted in the said flyers.

On the other hand, selected COWD employees together with COWD Board of Director representing the Women’s Sector, Director Janet Floirendo, also participated in the Thanksgiving Mass, Motorcade and Zumba spearheaded by the City Government to kick-off the 2023 National Women’s Month celebration.

World Toilet Day is an annual United Nations observance that is held every 19th of November.  To support the cause, COWD visited four barangays to spread the message on creating proper sanitation systems starting at the household level in order to protect groundwater sources from pollution.

Our resource person talked to a number of residents from Barangay 35, Patag, Balulang and Kauswagan and informed them about the consequences of building toilets without a septic tank or having improperly-built septic tanks.  They were also advised to not pour toxic chemicals or throw diapers, sanitary napkins or cigarette butts into the toilet.

We have to be mindful of avoiding unhealthy waste disposal practices as it could contaminate water sources and result in waterborne diseases like diarrhea, cholera, dysentery or typhoid fever.  The link between sanitation and groundwater should not be overlooked.

As we face a new way of living brought on by the effects of the pandemic and continuously survive to fight new variants that are developing, it is our continuous yearning to strengthen our partnership with our colleagues in the service sector.

With that in mind, the Cagayan de Oro City Water District thru its Public Relations arm donated some air purifiers, alcohols, and disinfectant sprays as our way of showing support and appreciation to our health workers of the Northern Mindanao Medical Center (NMMC) and J.R. Borja General Hospital (JRBGH). The donations were received by some officers, doctors, nurses, and staff of the said hospitals.

The health workers continuously reminded us to strictly observe the minimum health standards. The decline in cases does not mean it is high time to relax. Even more that we need to be vigilant. We need to ensure we detect cases early, quarantine close contacts, and continue to expand healthcare pathways.

COWD, as a water utility provider, partners with five (5) randomly selected local barangays in promoting hand hygiene: an advocacy that has become relevant these days due to the unprecedented CoVid-19 pandemic.

As 15^th of October is being globally celebrated as Hand Washing Day, the Cagayan de Oro City Water District, through its Public Relations and Information Division, partners with five (5) local government units with an aim to increase awareness and understanding about the importance of handwashing with soap and water as an affordable way to prevent diseases and save lives. Portable lavatories with faucets, water containers and liquid hand-soaps were given to 5 local barangays and said items were personally received by no less than the respective Punong Barangays (PB) namely PB Billy Kid Auza of Brgy. Tablon, PB Wendelyn Escobia of Brgy. Cugman, PB Albert Adecer of Brgy. 26, PB Apolinario Bonete of Brgy.29  and PB Anthony Abejuela of Brgy 1 respectively.

date: September 17, 2022

location: Bitan-ag Bridge, Lapasan Coastal Road

As a demonstration of its support for the region's COVID-19 referral hospital - the Northern Mindanao Medical Center, COWD facilitated a blood donation drive last September 8, 2022 at its Macasandig Sub-Office. Thirty-eight (38) COWD workers successfully donated 450ml each of fresh whole blood (FWB) to the NMMC blood bank. COWDs PR personnel and two company nurses assisted NMMCs health workers that included Ms. Camella Belisario of NMMC blood bank and NMMC physician Dr. Ryan Lim.

Water Station at Velez Street in Divisoria during the Higalaay Parade on the eve of CDO Fiesta.

In celebration of July as Nutrition Month, COWD in collaboration with the City Health Office (CHO) of Cagayan de Oro and Barangay Consolacion, conducted an activity promoting proper nutrition and good hygiene practices by teaching kindergarten children ranging between 4-6 years old together with their parents and/or guardians the importance of proper nutrition and good sanitation practices to one’s health. 

COWD supports the joint AFP/PNP Peace Concert and Caravans at Kiosko Kagawasan, Divisoria on June 30, 2022.

Beyond COWD's mandate to provide people with access to potable water, COWD also does its share in improving the quality of life of the people in the community in the following areas, education, health and sanitation, water conservation, environment protection and cultural preservation.

COWD, with partner Vitens Evides International, conducted a Serbisyo Caravan for New Service Connections

at Mahogany Relocation Site on May 21, 2022.

Services offered were:

• On-site Orientation/Seminar

• Fill-up of pre-application forms and receiving of required documents

• Pre-inspection

• Receiving of payment for installation fee