The Center for Research and Communication’s Institute for Local Development (CRC-ILD) recently completed a major research project commissioned by global non-profit organization Water.org.
The study, entitled “Technical Assessment of the Water and Sanitation Loan Portfolio of Philippine Government Financing Institutions,” was conducted from September 2025 to April 2026 and examined whether financing from the two government financial institutions (GFI) – the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) and the Land Bank of the Philippines – translates to sustainable outcomes for water service providers (WSPs) and the communities they serve.
The research forms part of Water.org’s broader initiative to work with financing institutions, water utilities, and government agencies to unlock capital that enables underserved families to gain access to safe drinking water and adequate sanitation services. Founded by Gary White and Matt Damon, Water.org is a global non-profit organization that advances sustainable and market-driven solutions to the global water crisis.
WSPs, consisting of water districts, local government-run systems, a private utility and one cooperative each from Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao participated in the technical assessment, with inputs from key stakeholders such as the Department of Economy, Planning and Development (DEPDev) and the Philippine Association of Water Districts (PAWD).
The study’s key findings affirm that financing from GFIs plays a catalytic role in expanding water and sanitation access in the Philippines. Across the assessed portfolio, loans enabled WSPs to expand service coverage, develop new water sources, and improve service delivery, thus benefitting customers. These outcomes support the country’s efforts to achieve universal access to water and sanitation under the Philippine Water Supply and Sanitation Master Plan and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal No. 6 on clean water and sanitation. The study also highlighted persistent sector challenges and offered recommendations to enhance service delivery and financing effectiveness.
The study was led by CRC-ILD’s water sector technical experts, namely Ms. Joanne Dulce, Ms. Alma Porciuncula, and Mr. Ariel Lapus, whose combined decades of experience in climate and water security; water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) financing; and water utility operations contributed to the technical rigor of the research.
The successful completion of the project reflects CRC-ILD’s strong capacity to deliver high-quality, action-oriented research that advances local development, including in the area of improving access to water and sanitation. CRC-ILD remains committed to collaborating with public and private sector partners in initiatives that promote sustainable and inclusive development in the Philippines.
To find out more about CRC-ILD, send an email to [email protected] or follow us on LinkedIn or on Facebook.
