The “water for the poor” initiatives of Maynilad Water Services, Inc. (Maynilad) now provides potable and affordable water supply to more than 3,000 households in poor communities within its West concession area.
Maynilad’s “Samahang Tubig Maynilad” (STM) program provides poor communities the opportunity to manage their own internal water system and earn from it at the same time. To date, 13 STM communities have been established in Manila, Pasay, Caloocan, Malabon, and Quezon City, benefitting some 19,400 people.
Another “water for the poor” project, called “Pag-asa sa Patubig”, enabled Maynilad to provide potable water to some 500 urban poor households in Bacoor City and Muntinlupa City. Under the program, Maynilad partnered with social enterprise group Tubig Pag-Asa, which manages the bulk water system in these poor communities.
“Pag-asa sa Patubig” beneficiary and Muntinlupa resident Evelyn Rempillo said their community used to rely on costly water deliveries and unsafe water from deep wells. “Nagbabayad kami dati ng P2,000 kada buwan para sa tubig, kasama na ang gastos sa mineral water. After 30 years ng pagtira ko dito sa Upper Sucat, ngayon lang kami nakaranas ng inuming tubig mula sa gripo. Salamat sa Maynilad dahil malinis na, mura pa ang tubig namin ngayon.”
“These poor communities end up spending so much more for water than those in well-off areas, so we strive to find ways of giving them access to potable water from Maynilad,” said Maynilad President and CEO Ramoncito S. Fernandez.
This year, Maynilad is looking to establish four more STM and Pag-asa sa Patubig communities to benefit about 300 families in other areas.
Maynilad is the largest private water concessionaire in the Philippines in terms of customer base. It is the agent and contractor of the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) for the West Zone of the Greater Manila Area, which is composed of the cities of Manila (certain portions), Quezon City (certain portions), Makati (west of South Super Highway), Caloocan, Pasay, Parañaque, Las Piñas, Muntinlupa, Valenzuela, Navotas and Malabon all in Metro Manila; the cities of Cavite, Bacoor and Imus, and the towns of Kawit, Noveleta and Rosario, all in Cavite Province.
PHOTO CAPTION: Maynilad COO Randolph Estrellado and the young residents of Upper Sucat, Muntinlupa, wash their hands using the new faucets installed in the area under Maynilad’s “water for the poor” project, Pag-Asa sa Patubig.
