Outsourcing Impact Review: Probe Group

Probe Group’s Solar Powered Clean Water Project is transforming community health, education, and resilience in Tingloy, Batangas—proving that BPOs can leverage innovation to address basic human needs sustainably. By integrating solar energy with community-powered management, Probe replaced unreliable and costly water sources with seven clean, solar-powered taps now serving households, San Juan Elementary School, the local medical clinic, and a community chapel.

This project goes far beyond infrastructure. It integrates local training, co-management, and operational handover, guaranteeing long-term impact while minimizing environmental footprint. Solar power eliminates dependence on fossil fuels, while local empowerment ensures that the benefits—safe water for work, school, and health—will last for generations.

Impact of “Solar Powered Clean Water Project”

The initiative now reliably serves 550 individuals across the island, including 140 students and eight teachers. Waterborne illnesses and hygiene-related illnesses have decreased; fuel and plastic use for water delivery have been slashed; and students’ attendance, focus, and well-being have measurably improved. Importantly, community-led management ensures the system is maintained and sustained, while robust impact tracking assesses outcomes in education, health, and environmental sustainability.

How “Solar Powered Clean Water Project” Started: A quick background

Probe Group launched the project in partnership with the Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP) to address persistent water scarcity driven by unreliable power and environmental vulnerability. By choosing solar energy and training local leaders for system operation and maintenance, the project created a replicable blueprint for resilience in other remote and underserved communities.

Relevant Statistics: Facts and Figures

• 550 individuals served with direct clean water access
• 7 community taps supplied, plus full coverage for school, clinic, and chapel
• 140 students and 8 teachers now have reliable, safe water at San Juan Elementary School
• Significant reduction in waterborne illnesses and lost classroom time
• Elimination of polluting fuel and plastic for water transport

Positive Impact Created

The project has restored hope and dignity for families who once carried heavy water from distant wells, now gaining time, health, and opportunity.

School head Maria Fe Alvarez explains, “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... Now that we have a water filtration system, we no longer need to buy drinking water… because water now flows directly into every restroom and every sink—and not just any water, but clean, safe water.”

San Juan’s Vice Mayor Dawn Alvarez adds, “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. Most of the children here are malnourished, so even just this potable water system is already a tremendous help for our children's health.”

A Real Impact

The stories of reduced illness, improved attendance, and simple daily comfort echo across Tingloy and inspire similar action in over 100 island communities facing the same challenges.

One local parent shared, “We used to carry gallons and buckets from down below just to get water. But now that I’m old, it’s become really hard for me to do that—my body can no longer bear what it used to… That’s how we’ve lived our whole lives. So now, we are deeply grateful to you because we finally have a water source close to our home. Thank you so, so much.”