LINGAP ESKWELA IN ZAMBOANGA CITY
More than 380 pupils and 11 teachers of Lumayang Elementary School (LES) in Zamboanga City can now practice better handwashing habits through the rehabilitation of a 10-faucet handwashing facility and its water line, and the installation of an elevated water tank. Before the project, the handwashing facility had a poor water supply, and its used water directly touched the ground, which, at times, soaked the pupils' feet. To address this, Zamboanga City Water District requested to rehabilitate the facility, its water line, and its water supply source. Through the support of Zamboanga Water Company, and Rotary Club of Zamboanga West District, MWF is happy to have turned over a rehabilitated handwashing facility and its water line, and an elevated water tank to LES on March 7. MWF also conducted a handwashing lecture and turned over books, posters and towels to ensure that the pupils will be able to practice their handwashing habits effectively. We hope that through this initiative, children will be more encouraged to practice proper hygiene habits, thus helping them grow into healthy individuals.
HEALTH IN OUR HANDS IN OLD BALARA
Did you know that simply practicing the seven handwashing steps can prevent communicable diseases? 50 kids and 50 parents from Tandang Sora Avenue, Old Balara in Quezon City were encouraged to practice proper handwashing with clean water and soap during the conduct of Health in Our Hands, Manila Water Foundation (MWF)'s hygiene education program, last March 9 . MWF is grateful to Parroquia De La Nuestra Seniora De la Y Buen Viaje, through the leadership of its Parish Priest Fr. Jerome Rosalina and Parish Health and Nutrition Ministry Servant Leader Dra. Myrna Topacio - Mercado, for their support in promoting proper handwashing.
AHON TUBIG IN CABUYAO CITY
"Dati, nag-iigib lang kami sa poso. Kapag may ulan naman o baha, 'yung nakukuha naming tubig, may mga buhangin (We used to draw water from a deepwell water pump. When it rained or there was flood, the water got murky,)" shared Babylyn Caparino of Barangay Gulod in Cabuyao, Laguna.
Caparino is one of the hundreds of individuals in Cabuyao, Laguna who used to have no access to water inside their homes. On March 12, around 280 households from Barangay Gulod and Baclaran have access to piped-in water service connections inside their homes. This is through the Ahon Tubig program, Manila Water Foundation (MWF)'s flagship initiative which aims to improve the lives of Filipino families by subsidizing 65% of water service connection fees in indigent communities.
To formalize the subsidies, certificates were turned over to the benefiting families. Part of the turnover is the sharing of knowledge on septage management through Laguna Water’s TSEK ng Bayan as well as on proper handwashing with clean water and soap through MWF’s campaign, Health in Our Hands.
"Maraming salamat sa MWF at Laguna Water kasi binigyan ninyo kami ng chance na maging mas mabilis umunlad ang pang-araw-araw na buhay. (Thank you to MWF and Laguna Water for giving us a chance to progress with our everyday lives,)" said Babylyn.
MWF is grateful to its partners, Laguna Water, Water.org, and the local government of Barangays Gulod and Baclaran for their unwavering support in this initiative.
LINGAP ESKWELA IN CALASIAO
MWF is glad to have served more than 600 pupils and 26 staff of Doyong Malabago Elementary School (DMES) in Calasiao, Pangasinan by providing access to clean and potable water.
Aside from the inauguration, MWF conducted a handwashing lecture to 100 pupils to ensure that they will be able to practice their proper handwashing habits effectively.
This initiative is under Lingap Eskwela, MWF’s flagship program which provides access to clean and potable water through the construction of handwashing and/or drinking facilities. This is made possible through the support of the Municipal Government of Calasiao, Calasiao Water District and Calasiao Water Company. Through this project, MWF hopes that children of DMES will now make it a daily habit to wash their hands and keep a healthy lifestyle.
