More Filipinos gained access to water, sanitation facilities in 2024

MORE FAMILIES gained adequate access to basic drinking water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) facilities last year, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority’s (PSA) Annual Poverty Indicators Survey (APIS).

- By Pierce Oel A. Montalvo Researcher

The preliminary 2024 APIS results show that 97.5% of 28.01 million families had access to at least basic drinking water services, up from 96.3% in 2022. The share of families with limited and unimproved access to water also declined to 0.9% (from 1.3%) and to 1.4% (from 2.3%), respectively.

Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. Chief Economist Michael L. Ricafort linked the improvement to the increase in infrastructure spending in recent years, particularly in further expanding water supply sources and improving security for Metro Manila and other urban areas.

This is due to lessons “from some interruption in water supply in 2019, as well as prioritized further during the COVID-19 pandemic when it comes to ensuring continuous water supply and sanitation.” he said in an e-mail.