Manila Water wins big at 15th Annual Global CSR & ESG Awards

MANILA, Philippines — For its solid performance towards fulfilling goals set for environmental protection, helping communities thrive, and building a culture of trust and care among its employees and stakeholders, Manila Water was given 3 of the highest distinctions in the 15th Annual Global CSR and ESG Awards, recently held in Novotel Danang Premier Han River, Danang, Vietnam.

Manila Water received all Platinum honors in the Best Environmental Excellence Award, Best Workplace Practices Award and Excellence In Provision Of Literacy and Education Award categories, under the USD 500 Million To USD 1 Billion Market Capitalization bracket. The Company was represented by Senior Sustainability Manager Katrina Tarape, Manila Water International Business – Vietnam Country Manager Nguyen Thị Ngọc Hà and Cao Trần Khải, Deputy Director of Kenh Dong Water Supply JSC.

The Global CSR & ESG Summit and Awards is Asia’s most prestigious recognition awards program for Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental, Social and Governance. The program recognizes and honors companies for outstanding, innovative, and world-class products, services, projects and programs that demonstrate the company’s leadership, sincerity and ongoing commitment to incorporating ethical values, compliance with legal requirements, and respect for individuals, communities, and the environment in its business plan and operations.

For the Best Environmental Excellence category, the Platinum award is given to companies who achieved huge improvements or impact in reducing waste, pollution, energy, and water conservation, with its impact benefitting the entire country or on a global scale through contributing to the 17 Sustainable Development Goals set by the United Nations.

Manila Water was honored for revolutionizing wastewater management, with the Company successfully expanding its sewer coverage to 34.7% by the end of 2022, from the initial 3% at the start of the East Zone concession.

This equates to only 45,000 customers to approximately 2.6 million customers who now have access to Manila Water’s sewerage services. This effort is also incorporated with sanitation initiatives such as desludging services to improve public health and hygiene, community education to empower communities for sustainable practices, and innovation for continuous improvement and breakthrough solutions.

Manila Water also bagged Platinum for Best Workplace Practices, awarded to companies who successfully established a culture of employee first, mutual respect, recognition, and work ethics clearly communicated and practiced at all levels of the organization with the active participation of the senior management.

The Company also secured Platinum in the Excellence In Provision Of Literacy and Education Award for its flagship programs “Lakbayan,” a water trail tour from water source to wastewater treatment which aims to educate, engage and empower its participants in understanding the value of water, promoting wise water usage, and emphasizing proper wastewater management, and “Toka-Toka,” the first and only environmental movement in the Philippines dedicated to wastewater management, done in collaboration with stakeholders from the public and private sectors.

“Sustainability is at the very core of everything we do in the Manila Water and we take pride in the fact that we are making a positive impact on the world, which was validated by these recognitions.  Rest assured that Manila Water will remain steadfast in delivering essential services while continuing environmental stewardship and care for the community for a sustainable and resilient future,” says Manila Water President and CEO Jocot De Dios.

RELATED STORY:

Manila Water intensifies desludging operations for September