Manila Water Foundation, brings importance of Earth Day to kids

Tweet

Manila Water Foundation, the corporate social responsibility arm of the Manila Water group for areas within Metro Manila and beyond, engaged youngsters in a day full of exciting activities that expressed the value of taking care of Mother Earth.

“The Foundation’s Earth Day celebration reflects how we would like to implant the importance of being mindful of the environment’s condition and the efforts needed to be taken to improve it at grassroots level,” said Carla Beriña-Kim, Executive Director of Manila Water Foundation. “Educating the youth during their developmental years would promote the formation of consciousness and habits that will shape an active public geared at forging a sustainable future,” she adds.

Almost a hundred children aged six and above participated in a story telling teaching the role of water cycle in the environment and in the Amazing Kiddie Race which included stations that stressed the importance of using water wisely such as the Water Relay Station. 

Christine Casabar, parent of one of the participants shares the Foundation’s vision of inculcating the value of protecting the environment in an early age. 

“This stage is very crucial because it is the time that the learnings are readily accepted and embraced,” said Casabar.

According to Roy Gonzaga, parent of one of the participants, his daughter Rayne shared how she gained environmental awareness and enjoyed her first step to taking care of Mother Earth through the seedling planting activity. “As parents, we play a critical role of developing the awareness and responsibility of the future generation towards the environment,” said Gonzaga. “After all, they will be the ones who will inherit our planet and reap or sow depending on our present actions”.

The full day event ended with splashes and laughter as kids jumped and swam in the pool the rest of the afternoon. 

This Earth Day celebration was done in cooperation with Manila Water Company, Museo Pambata, Philippine Book Fairs and Education Inc., and Metropolitan Water Works and Sewerage System.

Manila Water recognizes green vendors

Tweet

“Greening the Supply Chain” that aims to educate and strengthen the environmental awareness of our contractors and to ensure that they are in compliance with environmental legal requirements and reduction of environmental impacts as part of Manila Water’s greening the supply chain initiatives.

As part of the company’s continuing programs to motivate its various “green” contractors and vendors to take part in implementing environmental initiatives and best environmental practices, Manila Water Company has recognized 14 of its pool of accredited service providers for their exemplary performance and commitments to the Green Islands of Sustainability project.

During Manila Water’s 7th Contractor’s Forum the Green Vendor Awards were given CRL Environmental Corp., Dolomatrix Philippines, Inc., E.I. Construction and Development Corp., Electrical Equipment & System Integration, Inc., G.D. Reyes Construction, GPM Industries Corp., Honda Cars Philippines, Inc., Lanange Construction, Lane Archive Technologies Corp., Link Energie Indus for their outstanding environmental performance and successful implementation of measures to lessen environmental impacts of their operations, reduce business cost and provide better workplace to its employees.

Manila Water also gave Green Star Awards to Link Energie Industries and Moldex Products as they both achieved a four-star rating equivalent to 80-95%. Green Star Awards are given by Manila Water to its contractors for achieving a four to five-star rating.

Manila Water Operations Group Director Geodino Carpio said that the recognition it gives its contractors and vendors aims to influence and motivate its various contractors to implement environmental initiatives in climate change mitigation and adaptation, environmental protection through reduction of environmental impacts through the implementation of best environmental practices.

“It’s been a commitment of Manila Water to pursue environmental sustainability programs to protect our resources and environment,” Carpio added.

In the same forum, Manila Water Environmental Planning Department Manager Mark Tom Mulingbayan shared the pressing problems of climate change and its impacts as well as strategies on climate change mitigation and adaptation. 

Mulingbayan also stressed the importance of what we can do as individuals and business entities to lessen our carbon footprints.

Aside from climate change, also discussed during the forum are the Philippine Environmental Laws and Regulations that needs to be complied such as Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, Philippine EIS System, Ecological Solid Waste Management and Toxic and Hazardous Waste Acts.