Aligned with the celebration of World Water Day, Manila Water Foundation, the social development arm of Manila Water Company, joined the United Nations (UN) 2023 Water Conference last March 22-24. The urgent gathering of world leaders show that water truly unites the world, especially amid climate change. After almost 50 years since the last UN Water Conference, world leaders of government and businesses share commitments to a sustainable future through collaboration and cooperation surrounding water action.

Manila Water Foundation was the only Philippine private organization granted special accreditation to participate in the 2023 UN Water Conference at the UN Headquarters in New York City. The Conference was convened by the United Nations General Assembly and co-hosted by the Government of Tajikistan and the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

Manila Water Foundation Integrated WASH Program Manager Bess Par is part of the delegation from the Philippines. Representatives from national government agencies attended the Water Conference led by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Department of Health (DOH), Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), Department of Finance (DOF), Department of Budget and Management (DBM), Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System - Corporate Office (MWSS CO), Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System - Regulatory Office (MWSS RO), National Water Resources Board (NWRB), Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA), National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), and National Housing Authority (NHA).

The primary outcome of the conference will be the Water Action Agenda, which is “the collection of all water-related voluntary commitments to accelerate progress in the second half of the Water Action Decade 2018-2028 and the second half of the 2030 Agenda.” There were five interactive dialogues within the Conference: Water for Health, Water for Sustainable Development, Water for Climate, Resilience and Environment, Water for Cooperation and milestones on the Water Action Decade.

Represented by MWF Integrated WASH Program Manager Bes Par, Manila Water aims to exchange best practices and knowledge and develop new linkages that can complement to its existing programs and initiatives, such as advocating for Water Access, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) for marginalized communities, signifying its commitment on acting and achieving the targets set for SDG-6 or Clean Water and Sanitation.

The closing session of the conference featured summaries from the five interactive dialogues which got to the heart not only of what water is, but what it can be: a driver of equality, a solution to the climate crisis, a facilitator of peace.

UN-Water Chair and Director General of the International Labor Organization Gilbert Houngbo concluded: “Water is and shall remain everyone’s business”. He noted that the conference demonstrated the importance of cooperation across sectors, stakeholders, and borders. 

At the closing plenary, governments, businesses and civil society shared commitments and investments for the water agenda and overall sustainable development. 

The Manila Water Company Sustainability Policy and Climate Change Policy along with WASH and environmental programs of Manila Water Foundation demonstrate the company’s commitment to contribute to the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals or the UN SDGs.