Church And Waves for Water Bring Clean Water to Families and Students in Pangasinan Sitio

For the families of Sitio Dimantal in Bugallon, Pangasinan, clean drinking water has never been something they could take for granted. For years, students of Dimantal Elementary School relied on a local watershed of questionable safety water that turned heavily contaminated during the rainy season, leaving children vulnerable to illness and families stretching already limited budgets to purchase bottled water.

On April 23, 2026, Dimantal Elementary School opened its doors to adults from households in the sitio, as The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Humanitarian Services, in partnership with Waves for Water Philippines, distributed 40 water filters to the community in a formal turnover and training event.

A School Head Who Would Not Wait

The path to April 23 began with one person's refusal to accept the status quo.

When Norman Q. Ayad assumed his role as School Head of Dimantal Elementary School in July 2025, the absence of clean drinking water was among the first and most pressing problems he encountered. Students were falling ill. Teachers were concerned. Families were burdened. And the watershed that served as the community's primary water source continued to deteriorate with every rainfall.

Rather than wait, Mr. Ayad reached out directly to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

"I saw the problems here at Dimantal Elementary School,  the lack of clean water and many others that need to be addressed," he said. "I did not hesitate to reach out and ask for help from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints because I knew that the Lord would provide everything."

His trust was not misplaced.

From Inspection to Action

Anthony John Balledos, Country Director for Church Humanitarian Services, and Elder Richard Plumber, representing the Urdaneta Mission, traveled to Sitio Dimantal to conduct a firsthand inspection of conditions at the school. Working alongside Mr. Ayad and the school's teachers, they assessed the community's needs and identified the most effective path forward.

After careful planning, the Church coordinated with Waves for Water Philippines, a non-government organization dedicated to providing clean water access to remote communities across the country, to design and implement a targeted response.

The result was a distribution of 40 household water filtration units, enough to cover every family in Sitio Dimantal, along with eight handwashing stations for installation in the school's classrooms.

Training a community to Sustain What It Receives

Distribution alone was never the goal. Ms. Lianna Cabigas, Program Management Officer for Waves for Water Philippines, led an informative training session for community members on how to use and maintain their filtration units effectively, ensuring that the benefit of this intervention extends far beyond a single day.

Bishop Alvaro Ferrer of Bugallon Ward (Congregation), Aguilar Philippines Stake (Diocese), was present for the occasion and offered opening remarks welcoming the community to the training.

"These water filters from Waves for Water, provided by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, are such a huge help," Bishop Ferrer said. "They really filter out dirty water and germs, so the water coming out of the filter is safe to drink. The community is overjoyed because this aid is a big deal to them, for their safety and health."

Sister Sarah Tolentino, Communications Director for Pangasinan of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, also attended the turnover and reflected on the deeper purpose behind the project.

"The Church's goal for this project is to ensure that every family and student in the community feels hope through access to clean water," she said.

"Our students will no longer struggle"

For the teachers of Dimantal Elementary School, the turnover ceremony carried a significance that went beyond logistics. Ms.  Aurora Ordonia, one of the school's teachers, expressed what the turnover meant in her own words.

"Hindi na mahihirapan ang aming mga estudyante, " ("Our students will no longer struggle.") she said.

She extended her gratitude to every organization and individual involved in the project, noting that access to clean water would not only benefit the health of the children but transform the daily rhythm of classroom life itself.

Elder Plumber confirmed that additional items requested by Mr. Ayad for the school will be delivered in the coming days. The eight handwashing stations from Waves for Water are set to be installed directly in the classrooms, giving students easier and more consistent access to hygiene facilities throughout the school day.