Clean water for life and livelihoods amid pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic has increased the need for clean water to prevent infection, while making it more difficult for some remote and vulnerable communities to access supplies. In the Philippines, an ILO-Japan project is developing better water supply systems, providing local jobs and promoting safe and healthy working conditions.

Just a few months ago Anelie Salazar was selling rice cakes in schools and washing clothes to help support her family. Antonio, her 46-year old husband is a coconut farmer and motorcycle driver and they have three school-age children. Every day, the 41-year-old mother would walk a kilometre to the nearest source of clean water, to complement the gallon of distilled water they bought for US$4.