Manila Water officer named one of 2019 TOWER awardees

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From left: Rene Gener, PMAP Executive Director; Ma. Rosario Vergel De Dios, Petron Foundation Vice President for HR; Ferdinand Dela Cruz, Manila Water President and CEO; Elisa N. Acacio, mother of Benny Acacio; Benny Acacio, TOWER Awardee and Fleet Heavy Equipment Officer from Manila Water; Jesus M. Pineda Jr., Rotary Club Manila (RCM) President; Bobby Joseph, RCM Director; and Rudy Bediones, RCM District Governor.

Manila Water Fleet Heavy Equipment Officer Benigno Acacio was recognized as one of this year’s TOWER Awardees or “The Outstanding Workers of the Republic” in the 2019 Centennial Edition of the awards program. 

Aimed at promoting wider recognition and the dignity of labor in industries, the TOWER Awards also recognizes the importance and contributions of those occupations which are especially relevant to the economic and technological progress of the country, to inculcate pride in excellence and outstanding work, and to help develop critical, innovative/inventive and creative thinking at the workplace, and a mindset for quality and productivity in the workforce.

Acacio was honored for the crucial role he played in the detailed and timely execution of the 44-piece 300-millimeter diameter pipe installation project to connect the floating pumps to the East La Mesa Water Treatment Plant during the low-level incident at La Mesa Dam in 2018. His innovative methodology using his skills and experience in operating heavy equipment enabled Manila Water to complete the project within schedule and helped prevent a massive water service interruption in the areas of Rizal Province and Marikina City, where approximately 195,000 people were able to receive continuous supply of water. Acacio is also an expert in the operation, maintenance, and repair of all light to heavy specialized fleet equipment, including mobile water treatment plants and water tankers. 

The TOWER Awards is spearheaded by the Rotary Club of Manila (RCM), in partnership with the People Management Association of the Philippines (PMAP), Petron Foundation Inc. (PFI), and the Department of Labor and Employment to pay tribute to the nation’s exemplary non-supervisory blue- or white-collar workers.

Because of his consistent excellent performance, Acacio had been nominated four times in Manila Water’s annual Huwarang Manggagawa Awards, the company’s original and longest-running employee recognition program which recognizes the most outstanding rank-and-file employees. In 2018, Benny was finally honored with the top Grand Huwarang Manggagawa Award on account of his role during the La Mesa Dam water supply incident.

Also present to share in Benny’s honors during the TOWER awarding were Manila Water President and CEO Ferdinand Dela Cruz, Manila Water Operations Acting COO Abelardo Basilio, Corporate Operations OIC Group Director Arnold Mortera, Corporate Human Resources Group Director Janine Carreon, Operations Support Services Division Head Estelita Orodio, Employee Engagement Department Head Camela Chiu, Fleet Operations Manager Mark Reyes, and Manila Water Employees Union President Eduardo Borela. The awarding ceremony was held on June 13 at the New World Makati Hotel.


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