As part of its 26^th anniversary celebration this August, Manila Water, through its social development arm Manila Water Foundation, launched Project Drink 72 where the Company will provide refrigerated drinking fountains (RDFs) to seventy-two (72) public schools in Quezon City.

Manila Water handed over RDFs to the first batch of 20 public schools in an event held at the Balara Elementary School in Quezon City. Present during the event are Manila Water President and CEO Jocot De Dios, Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte, MWSS Administrator Bobby Cleofas, Department of Education-Quezon City Schools Division Superintendent Carleen Sedilla, MWF Executive Director Reginald Andal, Manila Water East Zone Business Operations Group Director Shoebe Caong, and school principals, teachers and students from the QC public school recipients.

Among the first batch of recipients are Balara Elementary School, Balara High School, Batino Elementary School, Camp Crame Elementary School, Camp Crame High School, Krus na Ligas Elementary School, Krus na Ligas High School, Malaya Elementary School, Sto. Cristo Elementary School, Culiat Elementary School, Pinyahan Elementary School, Quirino High School, San Francisco High School, Bungad Elementary School, New Era Elementary School, Old Balara Elementary School, Pasong Tamo Elementary School, Project 3 Elementary School, Tandang Sora Elementary School, and Teodora Alonzo Elementary School with a total population of 59,000 learners.

Through this initiative, Manila Water hopes to contribute in achieving good health and well-being of the students, as well as develop a conducive learning environment with sufficient access to clean and potable water, safely-managed sanitation facilities and hygiene supplies.

As part of its 26th anniversary celebration this August, Manila Water, together with Manila Water Foundation, launched Project Drink 72 where the Company will provide refrigerated drinking fountains (RDFs) to seventy-two (72) public schools in Quezon City.

“Hopefully, ang mga bata, maiiwasan ang mga matatamis na inumin. Tubig po ang tunay na kailangan natin for our health. Ang mga fountain na ito will hopefully deter or prevent us from using plastic kasi masama po talaga yan sa ating environment,” said Jocot De Dios, Manila Water President and CEO.

In her speech, Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte expressed her gratitude to Manila Water in supporting advocacies that are also being prioritized by the QC government.

“Alam naman natin na isa sa mga adbokasiya natin ay siguraduhing malulusog ang ating mga kabataan. Kayo rin ang nagsimula ng WASH Program kung saan sinisiguro natin na may handwashing facilities ang ating mga paaralan. Ngayon naman, drinking fountains, alam nyo ito rin ay aking adbokasiya because we really believe that water is a basic human right that every Filipino family should have.” said Belmonte.

Meanwhile, DepEd-Quezon City Schools Division Superintendent Carleen Sedilla gave an assurance that the donated RDFs will be well taken care of.

“Part of the acceptance is also the commitment that we will use the facilities well, and we will sustain the program. And of course, the greatest commitment, lagi namin sinasabi ito na sana lahat ng dino-donate at binibigay natin sa mga bata would eventually help to improve learning outcomes.” Said Sedilla.

The RDFs are made of stainless steel, pedal-operated to promote contactless use and has a cooling capacity of 50 liter per hour and temperature of 13 to 18 degrees Celsius. Aside from the RDFs, drinking kits, hand soaps from P&G Safeguard Philippines and children’s toys from Ronald McDonald House Charities will also be given to school recipients.

Manila Water will also regularly monitor the schools’ water service connection and wastewater drainage as part of its commitment in helping schools have access to clean and potable water which is essential for a better learning environment.

Project Drink 72 is part of MWF’s flagship program Lingap Eskwela, an infrastructure development program which provides stand-alone water, sanitation and hygiene facilities in learning institutions in support of the WASH in Schools program of the Department of Education. Lingap Eskwela provides RDFs, hand and oral hygiene info-education materials and education sessions, ensuring students, teachers and staff have access to sufficient and reliable drinking water.