Championing water access, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) in under-served communities, Manila Water Foundation (MWF) bagged the League of Corporate Foundations (LCF) Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Guild Awards’ Outstanding CSR Project in Health for its Integrated WASH Program in Porac, Pampanga.
The CSR Guild Awards is a recognition program of the LCF that distinguishes notable corporate social responsibility programs in education, arts and culture, enterprise development, environment, and health sector.
The MWF project, Water Access for a Waterless Aeta Community, resulted in the establishment of a reliable water infrastructure closer to the community, and ensures equitable access to clean and safe drinking water for community members. Under the project, MWF rehabilitated the 12-kilometer water system and constructed three water tanks and 13 common watering points in the community. After completing the water access project in Sapang Uwak, approximately 7,560 m3* volume of clean water was delivered to the community through the new water system.
Today, the water is used for drinking, bathing, cleaning and other domestic activities that is crucial in maintaining the health of both children and adults in the community. A Water Group among the Aeta residents was organized and trained to help reinforce their values and encourage collaboration. This is to ensure the sustainability of the project, where community members are taught how to operate and care for the community water system. This provision of clean water supports proper healthcare and improves the productivity of the community members.
MWF Program Manager Blessille Par emphasized the participation of the community and the support of the local government to the success of the project. Par shared, “We would like to thank our beneficiaries in the community of Sapang Uwak for their openness and trust, the Local Government of Porac for their support and our program partners for working with us. We are grateful for this recognition and we are inspired to continue to help uplift lives through the work that we do. There is a lot more to be done, and it is even more important now that we are in a pandemic, that each person will have access to clean water, to help protect us from communicable diseases.”
MWF bested other entries in the category with its significant and effective contribution in the field of health as it continues its mission of bringing WASH for all communities.
Aside from this project, MWF was also recognized as a Finalist for Outstanding CSR Collaboration Project: Agapay Tubig sa Pampanga - A Collaboration Project for Quake Victims with Ayala Foundation, Inc.
The LCF CSR Guild Awards is dubbed as a seal of excellence in corporate citizenship to premier organizations that implement social good initiatives with sustainable impact to the communities they serve.