Amid geopolitical tensions, the Manila Water Foundation rallies partners to offer beacons of hope for Palawan barangays including the Pag-asa Island through a donation handover event dubbed as Mga Alon ng Kalinga at Pag-asa (Waves of Care and Hope).

During the partnership event, Manila Water President and CEO and MWF President, Jocot de Dios welcomed Civil Relations Service Armed Forces of the Philippines (CSRAFP) Commander Brigadier General Ramon Zagala, with MWSS Public Policy and Public Relations Department Head Christian Baluca sharing a message of support on behalf of MWSS Administrator Engineer Leonor Cleofas.

Manila Water Foundation is grateful for the support of its valued partners: One Meralco Foundation, P&G, Pascual Laboratories, PHILUSA Corporation, Pioneer Adhesives Foundation, Inc., Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC), and Lixil SATO. Boxes of soap, toothbrushes, vitamin supplements, hand washing stations, home and boat repair kits, solar lamps and children’s toys were turned over to the CRSAFP leadership as the private sector’s Christmas gifts. The CRSAFP will facilitate the safe transport and handover of the donations to the families, fisherfolk, and security frontliners in Palawan and in the West Philippine Sea.

For its part, Manila Water Foundation will also hand over two Refrigerated Drinking Fountains, fifteen units of WASHup! Hand Washing Stations and a Rain Catchment Unit for Palawan barangays and Pag-asa Island Elementary School under its Lingap Kasundaluhan program.

"I'm very thankful for this collaboration, with so many companies coming to help our kababayans in Palawan and Pag-asa Island. With this collaboration, I hope we can further enhance the support for the positive transformation of the lives of our kababayans," acknowledged Zagala while receiving the donation of Manila Water Foundation and its partners for the communities near the West Philippine Sea.

Mga Alon ng Kalinga at Pag-asa also looks forward to the wave of 2024 water access, sanitation, and hygiene or WASH partnerships with Airbus Helicopters, the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), and the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP). Reaching more vulnerable sectors and families, WASH and nutrition-sensitive projects will also be undertaken with the Civil Military Operations Unit - NCR of the Philippine Navy, the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF) Bureau of Muslim Cultural Affairs and Odyssey Foundation, Inc.

The collaboration among private sector groups through the Mga Alon ng Kalinga at Pag-asa program enables the mission of Manila Water Foundation to continuously bring care and hope to the vulnerable sectors by way of its WASH for All Communities advocacy.