East Zone concessionaire Manila Water continues to augment the clean-up and rehabilitation of San Juan River and its tributaries, as its way of reinforcing the Adopt-an-Estero Memorandum of Agreement (MOA), which the company signed together with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the local government units (LGUs) of Quezon City, San Juan City, and Mandaluyong City.

The program further underscores the commitment of each partner-agency to address pressing issues about the environment. In January 2020, then DENR Secretary Roy Cimatu shared that one of the Department’s goals is to clean the San Juan River to which Manila Water immediately responded by pledging its support by way of the Adopt-an-Estero program.

The program aims to clean up the two of the most polluted creeks in Metro Manila including Maytunas and Ermitanyo Creek, as well as Buhangin and Buayang Bato Creek.

Manila Water initiated due diligence of San Juan River and its tributaries to help formulate technical and social solutions by “adopting” the creeks that traverse the cities of Quezon City, San Juan City, and Mandaluyong City.

In 2021, Manila Water and DENR also signed an updated usufruct agreement for the upgrading of the East Avenue Sewage Treatment Plant in Quezon City.

The upgrade covers the retrofitting of the facility in compliance with the DENR AO 2016-08 which set the standards for biological nutrient removal in treated effluent, as well as the expansion of its sewerage network.

"In support of the government's mandate and infrastructure programs, Manila Water will continue to build more sewage treatment facilities and expand sewer network as part of our overall wastewater roadmap for the East Zone," said Manila Water President and CEO Jocot de Dios.

He also added that this is also to manifest Manila Water’s steadfast commitment to contribute to the rehabilitation of Manila Bay and other waterways.

DENR Assistant Secretary Ricardo Calderon expressed his gratitude to Manila Water and the other partners for their unwavering support through the implementation of various programs and initiatives geared towards the protection of the environment.

LGUs also pledged to support desludging services or siphoning of septic vaults in the households; provide cleaning materials during the clean-up drives; participate in information, education and communication campaigns, and other river clean-up programs which are some of their initiatives under the Adopt-an-Estero program.

Manila Water regularly coordinates and works with the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System to ensure the provision of continuous water supply and adequate wastewater services for more than 7 million customers in the eastern portion of Metro Manila and the province of Rizal.