Manila Water has finally covered the whole province of Rizal in its Toka Toka advocacy when it held a partnership seal signing with the provincial governor, mayors of the lone city of Antipolo and the municipalities of Jalajala, Baras, Tanay, Teresa, Cardona, Angono, Binangonan, Cainta, Rodriguez, San Mateo, Taytay, Morong, Pililia, as well as the Rizal Association of City/Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Officers (RACMENRO). The event was held on November 21 at Rizal Provincial Capitol in Antipolo City.

During the signing of the partnership, Manila Water President and CEO Ferdinand Dela Cruz shared with Governor Rebecca '"Nini" Ynares and the Rizal town officials the significance of the Toka Toka advocacy, the first and only environmental movement in the Philippines on used water management as a vital contributor in reviving our rivers and waterways.

Dela Cruz also assured that Manila Water is focused on its development plans until the end of concession agreement in 2037 as he recognized MWSS for approving its business and service improvement plan that includes programs that will further improve water, used water and sanitation services not only in East Zone of Metro Manila but also for Rizal Province. 

He cited that Manila Water will complete six more sewage treatment plants (STPs) in the whole province of Rizal with a total capacity of 300 million liters per day (MLD), starting with the construction of the 16-MLD capacity Hinulugang Taktak STP which was also unveiled during the program.

Several Rizal local officials attended the Toka Toka partnership seal signing including Rizal Vice-Governor Reynaldo San Juan, Angono Mayor Gerry Calderon, Baras Mayor Katherine Robles, San Mateo Mayor Cristina Diaz, Taytay Mayor Joric Gacula, Morong Mayor Armando San Juan, Pililla Mayor Leandro Masikip, Jalajala Vice-Mayor Jolet Delos Santos, Teresa Vice-Mayor Jeriel Villegas, Binangonan Councilor Isidro Pacis, Antipolo City Planning and Development Offfice Head Rowena Zapanta, Cainta Municipal Administrator Angel Talaga and Rodriguez Municipal Engineer Alexander Almario, along with members of Manila Water’s leadership team.

Also providing support for the environmental advocacy are MWSS Regulatory Office Chief Regulator Atty. Patrick Lester Ty and MWSS Corporate Office Deputy Manager for Research and Standards Development Byron Carbon representing MWSS Administrator PDDG Reynaldo V. Velasco (Ret.).

Among the programs included in the partnership seal signing are the commitment of LGUs on the activities and initiatives of Lingap Sapa for creek clean-up activities; participation in the Lakbayan program, an educational and facility tour of Manila Water; environmental content sharing in digital channels as well as support to water and other used water environmental projects of Manila Water.

In her speech, Gov. Ynares underscored the importance of environmental programs that will address climate change. Ynares also commended Manila Water for its project to implement the construction of a sewage treatment plant near the Hinulugang Taktak Falls, a famous tourist destination in the province. She likewise thanked the company for assisting the province in its many water and used water programs and expressed optimism in a strengthened long-lasting partnership.

Manila Water also gave plaques and certificates to all the partner-municipalities and environmental officers, and a commemorative landscaped desk plant to the provincial government as a symbol of the newly-sealed partnership under the administration of Governor Ynares. The symbolic bamboo plant represents Rizal province’s efforts in planting bamboo trees as a sustainable material for construction and reforestation initiatives.