Manila Water Foundation hosts World Toilet Day sanitation fair

In the Roots to Shoots program, Pilipinas Shell Foundation and World Vision partnered with MWF to build and hand over 102 toilets for families in Bombon and Pasacao, Camarines Sur.

MANILA, Philippines – The Manila Water Foundation (MWF) has led activities in the celebration of World Toilet Day (WTD) with the theme: “Accelerating Change. Sanitasyon, Lahat Aksyon!”

A World Toilet Day Sanitation Fair attended by Special Science students and parents was held at F. Ma. Guerrero Elementary School in Paco, Manila in partnership with the City of Manila LGU, Department of Education Schools Division Office of Manila, and private sector partners.

The fair aimed to promote proper sanitation for good health, highlighting the importance of clean and safely-managed sanitation facilities, which form part of personal and public health, and contribute to and support environmental protection.

MWF encouraged everyone to do their “Aksyong Pang-sanitasyon” (Sanitation Action), which includes disposing of used paper products in designated bins, not throwing anything in the toilet bowl, availing of septic tank desludging services from Manila Water, and ensuring the cleanliness of toilet facilities in households and public spaces.

Joining the World Toilet Day Sanitation Fair as booth partners were PHILUSA Corporation, Kalinisan Chemicals Corporation, HappyTap, and Lixil SATO. Company representatives showcased their products and demonstrated how they can contribute to public and community health by enabling good sanitation practices through their products and innovations.

In collaboration with GNPower Mariveles Energy Center Ltd. Co. (GMEC), MWF, through its Ahon Sanitasyon program, has contributed hygiene and sanitation facilities to the public cemetery and the Mariveles View Deck in the Municipality of Mariveles, Bataan. This initiative is in line with the Department of Health’s Zero Open Defecation Program (ZODP) advocacy and health education campaign.

For a wider reach of the World Toilet Day theme, MWF handed over hand hygiene, toilet cleaning, and deodorizing products from PHILUSA Corporation for the Quezon City Health Department’s Health Centers and for washrooms of the LRT-2 serving the commuting public.

Online contests were also initiated to bolster the promotion of World Toilet Day. These contests include the TikTok challenge titled “May Bidet ba Dzai,” aiming to underscore the importance of clean and safe toilets. Furthermore, the “Aksyon Pang-sanitasyon” contest on Facebook provides an interactive platform to remind netizens of proper sanitation practices, such as flushing toilets, maintaining cleanliness, and availing of septic tank desludging services.

Emphasizing that everyone has a role to play in “Accelerating Change,” MWF encouraged the public to join the campaign. Through water access, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH), we all say: “Sanitasyon, Lahat Aksyon!”

Manila Water reminds the public especially in the holiday season of get-togethers, parties, and festivities to maintain clean and proper sanitation facilities for good health and well-being.