Businesswomen launch efforts for irrigation and safe drinking water in Palawan, Philippines

ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. - May 28, 2020 - PRLog -- Local businesswomen and nonprofit volunteers Cora D. Carter and Barbara Lynch of St. Augustine, Fla., met through a series of events they believe is divine intervention. Since 2013, Carter is the founder and president of Resources for Philippine Rural Communities Corp. (http://www.rprcc.org/), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. The organization's vision is to help people in poor rural communities realize their full potential and empowerment to advance themselves out of poverty. The nonprofit provides needed interventions for indigenous groups with training in farming and livestock production, using tools and building materials, obtaining irrigation and potable water.

Specifically, the organization is now focusing on providing safe, potable water for the people of the Province of Palawan, an archipelagic province of the Philippines where water supplies are currently tainted for human consumption, and for farming irrigation to raise sustainable crops and animals for work and consumption.

Barbara Lynch's husband, Tom Lynch, is a drilling industry professional and nonprofit volunteer. He and the team are planning to purchase a drill rig and have it shipped to the island. "A major fundraising campaign is underway to purchase the drill rig with support items and materials. It is our hope to fundraise the $150,000 that is needed to have a drilling school in place in 2021," said Barbara Lynch. "Safe water should not be a luxury in any part of the world, so we will be drilling two types of wells with drinking and irrigation wells in each community on the island. We know that Cora was particularly concerned about safe water for the people due to the extreme drought in 2019," she said.

According to Tom Lynch, the preferred type of equipment for irrigation, drinking and bathing is a tractor mounted drilling rig with a capacity of 150 to 500-feet to reach the island's aquifer and a gooseneck lowboy trailer to haul the rig and measures 83-feet by 20-feet. Currently, some of the Palawan people are hauling water from rivers and tributaries in tricycle bikes with attached cart, however this is an extravagance for most. Otherwise, people haul water in containers by hand or on their shoulders, and walk to their homes.

The nonprofit is set up for financial support with donations at www.rprcc.org and visit #safewaterproject. Speaking engagements and presentations can be scheduled by contacting Barbara Lynch at 904.315.3979 or email barblynch317@gmail.com.