A Water Tank for Capiz

The water tank in Capiz during construction, about 1916.  Image courtesy of Nereo Lujan.

At the turn of the 20th, despite the building frenzy implemented by the Insular Government, far-flung communities of the Philippines still did not have adequate supply of potable water, worsening the existing cholera that had plagued and claimed the lives of thousands of Filipinos. War was one reason to blame, poor sanitation was another. Of the latter, an American doctor quipped:

"The sanitation of the towns were extremely bad. The habitations of the natives as a rule were surrounded by filth of all kinds - slops, garbage, fecal accumulations. Weeds and rank vegetation were aloud to grow along the fences and in the streets."

This poor condition extended to the lack of clean, drinking water, reason why it was difficult for the Americans to curb deaths from cholera. In fact, this scarcity of good water was triggered by the "paucity of municipal installations" [1] in different parts of the archipelago.

A practical solution was the small-scale storage of rain water. The well-to-do whose homes had galvanized iron roof could easily collect rain water that flowed into one or more tanks. The less fortunate would have to suffice keeping their water storage in the tadyao. Likewise, Heise and Abraham noted that "even in places where other waters are available, many people depend on a large measure on rain water." [2]

As early as 1906, plans were already considered in the building of the water tank but “the surface supplies are uniformly bad and well drilling has resulted in failure.” [3]

Capiz Water Tank about 1929. Image from the University of London School of Oriental and African Studies, courtesy of Nereo Lujan. I presume this image was from the south.

The water tank in Capiz, about 1929. Image from the Ifor Ball Powell Collection of the University of London School of Oriental and African Studies. I gather the image was taken from the site of the present-day Hughes Street. 

It took almost a decade until a concrete water tank was built, considering the financial requirements it entailed. Finally, in 1914, the municipal government of Capiz was able to borrow P5,000 from the insular government “for the construction of a reinforced-concrete tank of 800,000 liters* capacity” located at the back of the municipal building [4]. I presume that the old presidencia of Capiz was located somewhere in the area where the present President Manuel A. Roxas statue stands.

The Capiz water tank was cast from October 2 until November 4, 1916 with sand and gravel used in casting taken from Passi River in Iloilo province. The tank stood 6.10 meters high with a diameter of 11.5 meters.

By 1917, the water tank was already functional. This development was noted by Heise and Abraham, who wrote: "The town of Capiz has developed a project for catching rain water from the roofs of the principal public buildings. A reinforced concrete tank with a capacity of a million liters* has been recently erected.” [6]

During dry months, locals lined up to get water from a spout in front of the tank. During World War II, the municipal building burned down but the tank was spared. It was eventually hidden from the public eye after government buildings were built around it and only the water spout was visible.

In the late 1980s, the Metro Roxas Water District was established. The construction of the Paslang pumping station as a main source of water supply made the tank obsolete. With the transfer of government offices in the new City Hall, the water once again came into the public’s eye.

Ofelia Rendon, a local historian, later recalled that the local government of Roxas City** and the Cultural and Historical Research Foundation met and envisioned a museum:  “We met and envisioned a museum. It was through the patronage of Mrs. Judy Roxas that we were able to convert the building into a museum. She made representations to the city council for its renovation. So, in December 1992, Ang Panublion****was inaugurated.”

A new lease of life was given to the water tank. The structure was maintained, but minor works were carried out, like repainting, flooring, the construction of an administration office,entrance, exit and windows. [7] In 2015, the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority constructed an adjacent building that expanded the museum space. This building was inaugurated in 2016. In 2019, the Museum/water tank was declared as part of the Roxas City Heritage Zone. An interactive light display was installed around the water tank, as with other structures within the zone, which was inaugurated as part of the city's Sinadya Festival that year.

Water ceased from flowing from the tank. In its stead, stories from Capiz’s rich culture flow forth in the museum.

* Reports as to the thanks capacity varied from 800,000 liters to 1 million liters.
**The town of Capiz was converted into a city by virtue of Republic Act 603, An Act Creating the City of Roxas.
*** Panublion is the Hiligaynon word for inheritance/heritage

[1] Heise, G. and A.S. Abraham. (1918). Philippine water supplies. Manila: Bureau of Printing, 30.
[2] ibid.
[3] Present status of the work on Philippine water supplies (1906). The Philippine journal of science, volume 10.
[4]  Project Notes from District Engineers: Capiz (1914,April 1). Bureau of Public Works Quarterly Bulletin 3 (1), 31.
[5] The Philippine Journal of Science (1921, June) 18, 138-139.
[6] Heise and Abraham, 1918.
[7] Burgos, N.P. (2011)  Old water tank repository of Capiz artifacts. Accessed from Inquirer.