To expand access to potable water: LANDBANK pours support to water refilling station expansion in Isabela

QUIRINO, Isabela – While many far-flung areas in the country still lack access to clean drinking water, a local water refilling and bottling station is helping close this gap by supplying potable water in Isabela.

MHD Water Bottling Station was established in 2008 when Spouses Eddie and Marites Dalit discovered a deep well on their 3-hectare agricultural property. Water sourced from the well passed the regulatory standards for alkaline drinking water safe for human consumption.

Spouses Dalit saw this as a business opportunity to supplement their income, but more importantly, to expand access to clean and safe drinking water in their town.

“Bukod sa dagdag na income para sa aming pamilya, gusto rin naming ibahagi ang blessing na ito sa aming kapwa,” said Marites.

In 2009, Eddie and Marites expanded their business by operating their own alkaline water refilling station, bringing potable water closer to the residents of the 4^th class municipality of Quirino and nearby towns. Following its success, they decided to further expand into water bottling to accommodate more customers in the region.

To finance their business expansion, Spouses Dalit sought the assistance of the Land Bank of the Philippines (LANDBANK), which has been providing credit assistance to support their palay and corn trading business for over 20 years.

“Matagal na kaming LANDBANK client at masasabi ko na talagang maaasahan ang kanilang serbisyo,” said Marites.

LANDBANK approved a P4.5-million loan to partially finance the acquisition of alkaline water production and processing equipment, including the purchase of an automatic bottle rinsing, filling, capping, and labelling machine.

With their business expansion, Eddie and Marites made their alkaline water more accessible to remote communities, since bottled water is easier to transport and distribute around the Province.

The MHD Water Bottling Station is able to produce around 5,000 bottles of alkaline water per day, which are delivered to 10 schools in Isabela, as well as government and private offices, and sold to walk-in customers in their station in Brgy. Santo Domingo.

Through their distributors, they are also able to supply drinking water to nine other towns and cities in Isabela and Cagayan, including Gamu, Delfin Albano, Tumauini, and Naguilian, among others.

“Napakalaki ng naitulong ng LANDBANK sa amin. Salamat sa kanila at napalago namin ang aming negosyo,” said Marites.

LANDBANK continues to provide accessible credit support to micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), as part of its commitment to assist key economic sectors towards building stronger and more inclusive local communities.

As of end-April 2023, LANDBANK has extended P50.1 billion in outstanding loans to over 6,000 MSMEs nationwide.