Clean Water
and Sanitation
in the Philippines
How far are we in securing safe and clean water?
Achieving safe, reliable water for all Filipinos is possible but far from complete: national metrics indicate significant progress in basic water and sanitation coverage, but there are still significant gaps in service quality, equality, and resilience that jeopardize livelihoods, social inclusion, and health. Although the Philippines has made significant strides in recent decades, certain gaps are still evident particularly when looking at access equity and service quality.
Preliminary findings of the 2024 Annual Poverty Indicators Survey (APIS) conducted by the Philippine Statistics Authority cited that 84.7% of Filipino families have access to basic sanitation, including better sanitation facilities that are not shared with other homes. In addition, data from the same report in 2022 showed that approximately 97.6% Filipino households now have access to better drinking water sources.
Despite significant developments in the country’s water system, the nationwide state of water still requires much attention as regional disparities in infrastructure and access remain. Water pollution, sporadic supply, inadequate treatment, and the lack of investment in distribution and storage systems continue to plague many communities. Moreover, with the growing water demand despite rising costs and depleting natural water supplies, the sustainability of water supply is threatened by overlapping complexities – the country’s archipelagic geography, rapid population increase, extensive urbanization, and climate vulnerability.
The Costs of our Demand:
Commercial Rates for Water in the Philippines
Cost per cubic meter in the Philippines
Data Source: Local Water Service Providers and CMCI, 2024
Visuals by: Michelle Ann Alpuerto
The Vital Role of Water in Public Health
In the Philippines, having access to water and water sources remains crucial in securing basic sanitary services and amenities. Toilets, handwashing stations, and wastewater systems depend on clean, stable water infrastructures to function, and have a direct effect on public health and hygiene results. Safe water supplies encourage healthy child development and general well-being, help prevent the spread of waterborne infections, and allow households and institutions to maintain hygienic living circumstances.
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Percentage of Families with Access to Sanitation Facility, by Service Level
In 2024, 84.7% of homes nationwide had access to basic sanitation services, a significant increase from 84.0% in 2022. In contrast, access to limited sanitation service drastically decreased from 10.4% in 2022 to 10.1% in 2024, citing an evident shift in improvement of available sanitation facilities. Moreover, compared to data from the 2022 Annual Poverty Indicators Survey, the percentage of families that either practiced open defecation (2.6%) or utilized an unimproved sanitation facility (2.7%) as a result of a shortage of sanitary facilities remained the same.
Data Source: Philippine Statistics Authority, 2024
Visuals by: Juan Miguel De Veyra
Despite the consistent efforts in the establishment of sanitation stations, disparities between communities in urban and rural areas remain as urban households hold greater access rates at 85% compared to 65% of rural households. Such difference substantiates the continued difficulties in providing universal access to sanitary facilities which are essential for maintaining dignity and public health. Moreover, the incremental progress in numbers such as the decrease in limited sanitary service facilities in rural areas underscores the need for continuous improvement of safe, accessible, and reliable sanitation facilities in more underserved areas.
Regional Percentage of Families with Access to Basic Sanitation Service
According to the 2024 Annual Poverty Indicators Survey, basic sanitation services are available to 84.7% of Filipino households. The top three regions are Central Luzon (Region III) at 94.3%, Cordillera Administrative Region with 90.7%, and Caraga (Region XIII) at 88.3%, indicating significant advancements in both Luzon and Mindanao. On the contrary, other areas such as Zamboanga Peninsula, Northern Mindanao, and the Western, Central, and Eastern Visayas remain above 80%.
Data Source: Philippine Statistics Authority, 2024
Visuals by: Juan Miguel De Veyra
This unequal distribution among regions emphasizes how crucial it is to guarantee that every household has fair access to water and sanitary facilities. Low-access areas remain at the disadvantaged end as families in such areas are more susceptible to waterborne illnesses, have higher rates of child mortality, and cause interruptions to everyday life and education, particularly for women and children.
Percentage of Families with Access to Handwashing Facilities, by Service Level
The percentage of families with access to a basic handwashing station increased from 93.2% in 2022 to 94.0% in 2024. A gradual but steady development in infrastructure for household hygiene across the country is reflected in the slightly declining percentages of households with limited access or no handwashing facilities, which now stand at 2.8% and 3.2%, respectively.
Data Source: Philippine Statistics Authority, 2024
Visuals by: Migs De Veyra
Basic handwashing facilities are essential in the promotion of public health as it remains as the first step towards prevention of communicable diseases. The government’s continuous incorporation of Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) principles in the last years is best reflected in the availability of fixed facilities with sink and tap in communities, increased investments in water and soap supply, and poverty reduction initiatives through extensive hygiene campaigns.
Regional Percentage of Families with Access to Basic Handwashing Facilities
The Philippine Statistics Authority (2024) reported that 94% of households nationwide have access to basic hand washing stations, indicating development in the establishment of more hygiene infrastructures across communities. At 98.4%, the Cordillera Administrative Region has the highest proportion of households with access to basic handwashing facilities, closely followed by Western Visayas (97.6%) and Central Luzon (97.8%).
Data Source: Philippine Statistics Authority, 2024
Visuals by: Migs De Veyra
Rates above 90% can also be noted in the majority of other areas such as metropolitan areas like Metro Manila in the National Capital Region. However, lower rates were recorded in Region XII (SOCCSKSARGEN) and Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), with 83.4% and 83.3%, respectively, indicating persistent regional disparities in terms of availability and access. Nonetheless, the consistently growing number of households in both urban regions and marginalized communities prove the sustained efforts in prioritizing public health and reducing infectious disease transmission within households and communities.
Keeping the Flow of Safe and Dependable Water
Equitable access to clean water and adequate sanitation intersects with various key areas such as economic progress, human dignity, gender equality, and most importantly, public health. Such overlapping impact requires an integrated strategy in securing access to clean and reliable water, incorporating climate resilience, community involvement, robust local government programs and policies, and vast infrastructure development.
Local water districts alongside government units should sustain investments in long-term water projects such as deep wells, gravity-fed systems, and piped distribution networks. This is crucial in securing continued availability of safe water, particularly in rural and underserved barangays.
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Strengthening the capabilities of local water systems and barangay-level organizations is also vital to guaranteeing fair access for every family as well as community ownership. Through capacity building, communities learn to demand for better access to water infrastructure and lobby more policies from the grassroots level.
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Given the growing risks brought by severe weather conditions such as droughts and typhoons, alongside the widespread of saltwater intrusion, both local and national governments should continue in implementing policies that integrate climate adaptation methods with restrictions against groundwater pollution and intense extraction of primary water sources.
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Collaboration with non-government organizations, business communities, and civil society, can also accelerate service delivery through better funding for modernized equipment and installations of water systems. Moreover, information campaigns on safe storage, hygiene, and water conservation among communities is also vital as it guarantees shared awareness and accountability.
Long-term availability of safe and clean water for all not only demands for more water infrastructures, but also the demonstration of tripartite efforts. Continued advocacy and community involvement, inclusive and responsive local governance, and grassroots stewardship centered on sustainability and equity ensure the continued flow of safe, clean, and dependable water across regions.