Building With Nature

Rainwater is the source of our entire freshwater supply, replenishing both our groundwater and surface waters. As part of the Top 5 Most Rain Abundant Countries in SEA (World Bank, 2020), the Philippines receives an average of 2,400 mm of rainfall every year and yet we are experiencing water scarcity. We aim to change this narrative and empower Filipinos to start capturing and utilizing this free source of water when it falls, and where it falls. 

The Philippines heavily relies on groundwater more than surface waters, yet >50% of its rain is not recharged and instead becomes polluted surface runoff and flash floods (NEDA Master Plan, 2019-2030). Extraction of groundwater has exceeded recharge rates, causing depletion of groundwater supplies. We are working to increase groundwater infiltration through simple water retention and recharge solutions that ensure the long-term sustainability of our groundwater resources. 

Surface waters account for 86% of the country's total freshwater resource potential (NEDA Master Plan, 2019-2030), - that's more than groundwater. But these water bodies such as rivers, creeks and lakes are constantly at risk from septic, plastic, and chemical pollution. We treat our water bodies as open sewers, discharging our waste out into the open. It's high time that changes. We're on a mission to rehabilitate and bring life back into our waterways through innovative nature-based infrastructure and collaborative policy that protects the nation's water lifeline.