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This week on 'I-Witness:' Floating villages above Asia's largest lake
“LAWA NG CAMBODIA” Dokumentaryo ni Jay Taruc January 14, 2013 
Tonle Sap Lake in Cambodia serves as one of the main source of food and income in Cambodia. It is so large that five major towns surround this body of water. In fact, Tonle Sap is Asia’s largest lake. For the Chnok Trou floating Village residents in Cambodia, the lake has been their home. In fact, it has become a self-sufficient village that they have their own school system, health center, market, and other stores. The population bloomed to almost 10,000. But progress has its own setback. The water is becoming so polluted. Since the river is their source of drinking water, diarrhea, and other diseases caused by contaminated water, ensued. In 2007, a Filipino named Melvin Melgazo proposed a water purifier system to be put up in many floating villages around Tonle Sap. With the help of an NGO, this system of filtering the murky waters of the lake, gave the resident clean water to drink. But just last year, the purifier broke down. Melvin is planning to visit the village to conduct an inspection if the purifier can be fixed. The cost of each unit is a staggering $10,000. Upon Melvin’s return, he is surprised by a series of unfortunate events in Chnnok Trou. And he has yet to visit Chong Khneas, and other floating villages that need his attention. But these only serve as mere challenges for someone who has known hardships and rejections. Find out more about Melvin and his unique projects in Cambodia on I-Witness.
Tonle Sap Lake in Cambodia serves as one of the main source of food and income in Cambodia. It is so large that five major towns surround this body of water. In fact, Tonle Sap is Asia’s largest lake. For the Chnok Trou floating Village residents in Cambodia, the lake has been their home. In fact, it has become a self-sufficient village that they have their own school system, health center, market, and other stores. The population bloomed to almost 10,000. But progress has its own setback. The water is becoming so polluted. Since the river is their source of drinking water, diarrhea, and other diseases caused by contaminated water, ensued. In 2007, a Filipino named Melvin Melgazo proposed a water purifier system to be put up in many floating villages around Tonle Sap. With the help of an NGO, this system of filtering the murky waters of the lake, gave the resident clean water to drink. But just last year, the purifier broke down. Melvin is planning to visit the village to conduct an inspection if the purifier can be fixed. The cost of each unit is a staggering $10,000. Upon Melvin’s return, he is surprised by a series of unfortunate events in Chnnok Trou. And he has yet to visit Chong Khneas, and other floating villages that need his attention. But these only serve as mere challenges for someone who has known hardships and rejections. Find out more about Melvin and his unique projects in Cambodia on I-Witness. 
