Philippine Center for Water Sanitation


The PCWS is a non-governmental organization (NGO) supporting itself through its professional fees. Since 1998, PCWS has been working to improve the water supply and sanitation situation of the poorest households and communities in the Philippines. It currently provides technical assistance to local governments, communities and civil society organizations in assessing their local water and sanitation situation, undertaking water resources inventory, developing and implementing action plans for water supply, sanitation and hygiene (WASH).

The PCWS approach for communities in need of water supply and sanitation is to provide technology support for better understanding of environmental protection and the relationship of the environment to human security, poverty reduction and the prevention and mitigation of natural disasters. PCWS also undertakes researches, trainings and consultancies in partnership with relevant organizations to help improve capacities and service delivery. Researches pertaining to WASH are conducted and the results are shared with government agencies, NGOs and communities.

PCWS implements demonstration projects, hands-on trainings, awareness raising and orientation sessions on WASH. It actively promotes low-cost water supply and sanitation technologies that contribute to human health, community empowerment, poverty reduction and environmental protection.

Started in 1990 as a project of the Netherlands-based Institute of Infrastructure, Hydraulics and Engineering (IHE), PCWS was known at that time as International Training Network or ITN. In 1998, PCWS registered as a Philippine NGO with the Securities and Exchange Commission. It was granted Certificate of Incorporation No. A1998-16011 on 11 November 1998.