Manila Water Company: Manila Water pursues more "Lingap Eskwela" programs

Manila Water pursues more "Lingap Eskwela" programs

Posted: Thursday June 28, 2007

Besides providing clean, safe and potable water to homes and residences, Manila Water has vigorously pursued providing water and sanitation services to most public institutions such as hospitals, markets, jails, orphanages and most especially, schools.

In Metro Manila alone, there are more than 240 public elementary and high schools with more than 550,000 students. When Manila Water took over the operation, distribution and maintenance of the east concession area of the state-run Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS), priority was given to the rehabilitation of the mainlines leading to schools as well as the rectification of the internal water distribution system of the schools themselves. An initial cursory investigation showed that while there is adequate supply along the concessionaire’s mainlines, old and leaking antiquated lines characterized the plumbing systems of these learning institutions, especially public elementary and high schools.

In order to address this need, Manila Water has launched the Lingap Eskwela program, a water and sanitation improvement program which includes the rehabilitation of lines, installation of drinking fountains, cleaning of cisterns or elevated tanks, desludging of septic tanks, repairs of toilets and replacement of toilet fixtures, among others. This is to provide one of the basic school infrastructure elements that would promote an environment conducive to learning while at the same time promote better health and hygiene of schoolchildren. Clean, safe and potable water is a major need in school facilities that would prevent the occurrence of diseases prevalent among kids. Manila Water, in cooperation with MWSS, Department of Health and the Department of Education, has undertaken the improvement of water and sanitation facilities of more than 170 schools.

Recently, Manila Water has added the following schools to its already-long list of improved school facilities: Pasong Tamo Elementary and High Schools in Tandang Sora, Quezon City; Sta. Cruz Elementary and High Schools in Barangay Sta. Cruz, Antipolo City; Bagong Nayon Elementary School in Antipolo City, and Rizal Technological University in Pasig City. These schools have become regular water quality sampling points jointly tested with the Department of Health and the Metro Manila Drinking Water Quality Monitoring Committee. To date, no samples taken from schools within the East Concession area have failed quality tests. Manila Water also advises school administrators to periodically clean their cisterns and elevated tanks and check for internal leakages so that possible avenues for contamination will be eliminated.

Photo caption:
Recent inauguration of the Lingap Eskwela program at the Tandang Sora Elementary and High Schools was attended by (L-R front row) Dr. Zenaida Arao, OIC, Culiat High School, Pasong Tamo-Annex; Rosalinda Catan, Principal, Pasong Tamo Elementary School; Lourdes Fabre representing Congresswoman Annie Susano; Dr. Meleda H. Polita, Assistant Superintendent, QC Division of City Schools and Pastor Reynaldo T. Ritumalta, PTCA President of Pasong Tamo High School-Culiat. Back shows Florencio Espinosa, PTCA President of Pasong Tamo Elementary School; Beth Cruz, Balara Business Area Manager and Rene D. Almendras, Manila Water Business Group Director.