Manila Water Foundation, pinarangalan bilang Asia’s Community Care Company of the Year

Bilang katibayan ng layuning makapaghatid ng malinis na tubig, maayos na sanitasyon at kalinisan sa kapaligiran, ang Manila Water Foundation ay tumanggap ng parangal bilang Asia’s Community Care Company of the Year – ang pinakamataas sa kinabibilangang kategorya. Ito ay ipinagkaloob ng Asia Corporate Excellence and Sustainability (ACES) Awards noong Setyembre 20, 2019 sa Bangkok, Thailand.

Isa ang Manila Water Foundation sa 59 na nagwagi mula sa buong Asya para sa iba’t ibang kategorya, kung saan 17 ay mula sa Pilipinas. Ito ay buhat sa kabuuan na 326 institusyon na kalahok na masusing sumailalim sa pagsusuri ng mga dalubhasa sa larangan ng pribadong pagnenegosyo at pagkakawanggawa.

‘Kami ay nagagalak sa parangal na ito. Alinsunod sa pahayag ng aming Chairman Fernando Zobel de Ayala, ang Manila Water ay hindi isang negosyo na aming pinatatakbo, kung hindi ay isang tungkulin para maghatid ng serbisyo. Ang aming pagkapanalo ay nagpapatibay lalo ng aming adhikain na magdulot ng kalinga sa bawat komunidad,’ pahayag ni MWF Executive Director Reginald Andal.

Ang natanggap na parangal ay kinikilala ang Integrated WASH Program – ang proyekto na nagtatayo ng pasilidad para makapaghatid ng malinis na tubig at maayos na sanitasyon sa mga maralitang pamayanan pati na rin ang Flagship Programs (Lingap, Ahon, Health in our Hands) – ang proyekto na sumusuporta sa mga pampublikong institusyon at komunidad para sa mga tulad na pangangailangan.

Ang parangal na Asia’s Community Care Company of the Year ay ipinagkaloob sa kumpanya na nangunguna sa makabuluhan at makabagong adhikain na nakapaloob sa corporate social responsibility (CSR). Ang Manila Water Foundation ay matagumpay na naipapakita ang kahusayan sa pagsasagawa ng proyekto na naaayon sa panukat ng parangal –  kabilang ang kakayahan na mahikayat ang publiko, maipalabas ang positibong mensahe, maging malikhain sa gawain, mapamaraang pagsusukat ng resulta at pagpapatuloy ng proyekto.

‘Sa ngalan ng Manila Water Company, Manila Water Foundation, aming mga empleyado, kasangga at benepisyaryo, ang aming lubos na pasasalamat sa MORS Group sa parangal na ito. Nawa ito ay magsilbing panimula ng ating patuloy na pagtutulungan para makapaghatid ng kalinga sa bawat komunidad,’ pagtatapos ng MWF Executive Director Reginald Andal.

Manila Water joins the International Coastal Clean-up drive

Manila Water employees and volunteers joined the recently-held clean-up activity in Baseco Beach, Tondo, Manila as part of the 34^th International Coastal Clean-up Drive celebration this month.

Manila Water Corporate Strategic Affairs Group Head Jeric Sevilla Jr. said the company’s participation is part of its overall thrust on environmental advocacy.

“Manila Water wholeheartedly supports advocacies regarding cleaning and reviving rivers, coastal, beaches and waterways to create not only awareness on the need to protect the environment but more importantly to gather collaboration and collective action among stakeholders,” Sevilla explained.

Aside from taking part in this clean-up activity, Manila Water also provided water tankers for the volunteers and donated cleaning materials to the project.

The activity was spearheaded by the City Government of Manila through the Department of Public Services Office along with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

Other clean-up and tree planting activities were also being held simultaneously in Brgy. Tumana, Brgy. San Joaquin, Marikina City and Kasiglahan Village in San Jose Rodriguez, Rizal.

The former was led by Housing Project Development Office Head and MENRO in relation to the 6th anniversary of YES Green Program of the provincial government of Rizal and International Coastal Cleanup Drive.

Manila Water employees also volunteered in the tree planting and waterways cleanup activities in Brgy. Prinza in Teresa Rizal as well as in Maytunas Creek together with the local government of Mandaluyong and provincial government of Rizal.

This program is also in line with Manila Water’s advocacy program called “Toka Toka”, the first and only movement in the Philippines on used water management.  “Toka Toka” listed four ownable acts or ‘tokas’ which included proper disposal of garbage, availment of desludging services, connecting to Manila Water’s sewer network, and supporting Manila Water’s community-based sanitation projects. #(MWC Corporate Communications)

ACES Awards names Manila Water Foundation as Asia’s Community Care Company of the Year

True to its mission in serving marginalized communities through water access, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH), Manila Water Foundation (MWF), the social development arm of the Manila Water enterprise, bagged the Asia’s Community Care Company of the Year award, the top award for its category, at the Asia Corporate Excellence and Sustainability (ACES) Awards 2019.

“We are very grateful on the commendation as the Asia’s Community Care Company of the Year. As our Chairman Fernando Zobel de Ayala articulated, Manila Water is not a business to run, but a mission to fulfill. Winning this prestigious award certainly underscores our commitment to continue bringing WASH for all communities,” said MWF Executive Director Reginald Andal.

The ACES Awards recognized MWF for its Integrated WASH Program—developed to provide access to clean and potable water to rural, marginalized communities, as well as improving their sanitation and hygiene practices—and its Flagship programs, which was developed to support public institutions through stand-alone WASH initiatives.

Integrated WASH Program

Through the Integrated WASH Program, communities are given physical access to a water supply that can provide them safe, clean and potable water for drinking, bathing, cooking and other everyday use.

With water readily accessible, the Integrated WASH Program moves to the sanitation phase. Manila Water Foundation intervenes by making sanitation facilities available in these communities.  Aside from provision of facilities, MWF conducts behavioral change communication (BCC) campaigns to trigger a behavior shift that promotes good sanitation practices and strengthen community accountability in taking care of its new facilities. Residents are involved in the design and construction and they are also put in charge of maintenance and minor repairs once the facilities are constructed.

The last phase of the Integrated WASH program is to enhance the community’s knowledge on proper hygiene practices, primarily Hand Washing with Soap (HWWS). As with Sanitation, BCC campaigns on hygiene not only teach the correct practice of HWWS during critical times, it also promotes having the presence of soap within handwashing facilities for an improved adoption of new behaviors that promote good health.

Flagship Programs

Manila Water Foundation supports public institutions and low-income communities through the Flagship Programs. These initiatives target those who have less to no capacity to install their own water service connections, stand-alone water supply systems or sanitation facilities. Hygiene education is also conducted to raise awareness on proper hygiene practices as keys to healthy living.

Pride in Excellence

The Asia’s Community Care Company of the Year is presented to companies leading in significant, innovative and inspirational corporate social responsibility (CSR) campaigns with a relevant mission. MWF was able to fulfill the parameters of the campaign, including the ability to campaign to engage the public, generate positive brand communication, be creative in execution, methodological approach in results measurement, and campaign’s continuity.

An international award-giving body, ACES Awards recognize companies and individuals in Asia across two main domains: leadership and corporate social responsibility. It values and distinguishes the accomplishments of businesses for their contributions to their communities and the world. The celebration of ACES Awards was held at the Athenee Hotel in Bangkok, Thailand on September 20, 2019.

“On behalf of Manila Water Company, Manila Water Foundation, its talents, stakeholders and beneficiaries – our heartfelt gratitude to MORS Group and its partners for this recognition. Let us continue to collaborate in ensuring that no one is left behind in Asia’s sustainable growth,” said MWF Executive Director Reginald Andal. #(MWC Corporate Communications)

Manila Water fast-tracks its sewer pipelaying in Pasig City

As part of the South Pasig Package 1B Sewer Network, pipelaying activities will be done along C. Raymundo Ave. from Guanio St. to Mercedes Ave. Pipelaying will be done from September 1, 2019 to January 15, 2020.             Works will be conducted 24 hours a day, seven days a week, for this entire duration. The Pasig City administration has requested that this segment be fast-tracked, to help alleviate traffic congestion in the area.

“The Office of the Mayor has conducted consultations with Manila Water for them to complete their sewer pipelaying activities along C. Raymundo Ave. the soonest time possible.This is aligned with the City’s traffic management strategies to help minimize traffic inconvenience to Pasig residents and motorists,” Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto said.

For this segment, Manila Water likewise coordinates its activities with the DPWH, which is undertaking road works in the area simultaneous with the sewer pipelaying.

This pipelaying project is part of the North and South Pasig Sewerage System Project, which is set to be completed by 2020. Its treatment facility, the Ilugin Sewage Treatment Plant, is now 87% complete while the sewer network project is divided into eleven (11) packages covering a total of 65 kms of new sewer lines.

“Manila Water is committed to work towards excellent project execution as well as effective stakeholder engagement. We are working closely with the Pasig City Engineering Office and TPMO to be able to efficiently complete our roadworks and projects within the city so Pasiguenos can enjoy the benefits soon,” shared Manila Water Corporate Project Management Group Director Robert N. Baffrey.

The system project entails building what would be the largest Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) in the country which, in full capacity, could treat 100 million liters per day (MLD) of used water. More than 765,000 households surrounding the Pasig River will benefit from the project.  This project, in coordination with the local government unit of Pasig City, is part of the Used Water Master Plan of the company which aims to ensure that water we return to our rivers are non-pollutant.

The construction of the Ilugin STP in Brgy. Pinagbuhatan started in November 2014 while laying of the sewer network, which will intercept the used water from households and convey it to Ilugin STP, is ongoing.

Once completed, the cumulative capacity of Manila Water’s sewage treatment plant will increase to 410 MLD, and sewer connection will be expanded to around 26%, from current coverage of 15%. #(MWC Corporate Communications)