A solar-powered water system is transforming daily life for 550 people in San Juan, Tingloy, Batangas. Where families once struggled with unreliable clean water access, seven solar powered community taps now deliver clean, potable water directly to households, the San Juan Elementary School and the local medical clinic. For 140 students and eight teachers, this means no more disrupted lessons due to water safety concerns - just focused learning in a healthier environment.
"Getting this clean water system was so important for our community, especially here in the town of Tingloy, because potable water is a fundamental basic need, particularly for the youth," explains Vice Mayor Dawn Alvarez. "Before this project, households here only had access to water from wells and hand pumps. The water supply in our community was seasonal, sometimes even running out completely and crucially, that water was not safe for drinking." The health implications were serious. "Most of the children here are malnourished, so even just this potable water system is already a tremendous help for our children's health," Alvarez adds.
This transformation is the result of Probe CX’s Clean Water Project—a solar-powered water system that exemplifies how the Group’s substantial Philippine operations create opportunities for meaningful community impact and sustainability.
A renewable sustainable solution
The project involved constructing a complete solar-powered potable water infrastructure: a deep well pump, two 2,000-litre storage tanks and a pipeline network delivering water to seven community distribution points. One tap was strategically placed within San Juan Elementary School and a local medical clinic, ensuring immediate classroom access to clean water.
"The main safety benefit this project brings to the San Juan community is that students, teachers and the entire community now have access to reliable, clean and safe drinking water," explains Dale Seidel, National Health Safety & Environment Manager at Probe Group. "This significantly reduces the risk of waterborne diseases or illnesses that can arise from relying on untreated sources. Environmentally, the solar-powered system means there's no reliance on pollutant fuel sources. It's a clean, renewable solution that protects local ecosystems and reduces the community's carbon footprint."
Partnership for lasting impact
Probe CX supported the project while partnering with the Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP) for implementation and community relations. This collaboration ensured local expertise guided the construction and operational setup.
"The project itself had a duration of one year," explains Rochelle Batingue, Senior Program Officer at PBSP. "Our contractor actually engaged local construction workers from the community, which I believe is a good practice. Hiring people from the community not only helped provide them with income but it also gave them a sense of ownership, since they'll be the ones benefiting from the very project they helped build."
"One of the key components embedded in [this] project is sustainability," adds Batingue. "Our goal is that, upon the turnover of the project, the community is capable and knowledgeable enough to operate and maintain it on their own. That's why we integrate capacity-building activities as part of the process."
Following the system's official opening on June 14, 2025, Probe CX maintains ongoing communication with the community through PBSP, who will be conducting post-project impact assessments.
Creating positive change: ESG in action
“Our significant operations in the Philippines give us the opportunity to create positive change for the communities in which we operate,” says Jo Zaharopoulos, Group General Counsel & Head of ESG. "What's more, this project holds importance not just for these communities, but also for our employees. Our recent ESG survey clearly showed our people in all geographies are passionate about making a difference, with strong feedback not only on environmental themes like renewable energy and solar power but also on quality education, no poverty and our social impact and ethical governance. This shared commitment truly drives us and strongly influenced this purpose led initiative. Working with partners like PBSP allows us to build lasting solutions that go far beyond traditional corporate social responsibility—we're investing in the places where our people live and work, creating genuine impact where it matters most and delivering value to our clients by aligning with their strong commitment to sustainability - offering an environmentally responsible solution that reduces carbon footprints while ensuring reliable access to safe, clean water in alignment with various UN Sustainability Development Goals."
The transformation is immediately visible in the classroom. "Before this water project, the children were supposed to be inside the classroom, focused on learning, but because of the water shortage, they had to leave class just to fetch water to use the restroom. This disrupted their lessons and affected their ability to concentrate," explains Maria Fe A. Alvarez, Head Teacher at San Juan Elementary School. "Now that we have a water filtration system, we no longer need to buy drinking water. The children also no longer need to fetch water, because water now flows directly into every restroom and every sink—and not just any water, but clean, safe water."
.jpg)
.jpg)
The impact reaches beyond clean water access. Families now enjoy peace of mind about their children's health, students can focus fully on their studies and the entire community benefits from improved living conditions in a healthier environment.
As Probe Group continues expanding its global BPO/BPS presence, projects like this one demonstrates how the Group’s operational footprint becomes a foundation for sustainable community development—creating meaningful change in the regions integral to its success.
