Manila Water Foundation inaugurates new toilet facilities in Sitio Sapang

Manila Water Foundation, the social development arm of East Zone concessionaire Manila Water Company, together with its partners: the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS), and the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office of Bulacan, handed over eleven (11) family toilets in Sitio Sapang Munti of Barangay San Mateo in Norzagaray, Bulacan. The Sitio Sapang Munti community is within the Ipo Watershed, a critical water source for millions in Metro Manila.

MANILA, Philippines — Manila Water Foundation, the social development arm of East Zone concessionaire Manila Water Company, together with its partners — the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS), and the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office of Bulacan — handed over family toilets in Sitio Sapang Munti of Barangay San Mateo in Norzagaray, Bulacan.

After months of construction, 11 out of 30 sanitation facilities were handed over to identified household partners who formerly did not have a safe family toilet. In the spirit of bayanihan, construction of the components of the family toilet such as the bamboo doors and the excavation of the septic tanks were led by community members.

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The Sitio Sapang Munti community is within the Ipo Watershed, a critical water source for millions in Metro Manila.

The sanitation project is also supported by a US-based active wear company, Janji and part of MWF’s Integrated WASH program, which aims to bring Water Access, Sanitation and Hygiene to all marginalized communities in the Philippines – a participatory intervention that will result to access to clean and potable water and improvement on sanitation facilities and hygiene practices in the communities.

The partner families expressed gratitude to Manila Water Foundation during the handover ceremony, recalling the struggles they endured when they did not have their own toilet facilities. A positive difference for the community is to see the end to the incidence of open defecation. The family toilets provide safety and protects the dignity of girls and young children, and an overall win for the environment.

“Ako po nagpapasalamat talaga sa Manila Water Foundation kasi naabot kami ng tulong mula sa kanila. Salamat po ng marami kasi nagkaroon kami ng kaalaman sa paglilinis ng kapaligiran ngayon po na nagkaroon na po kami ng napakagandang CR,” (We are very grateful to Manila Water Foundation for the support they have given us. We are thankful that aside from the learnings on caring for the environment, they have also provided us with a reliable CR [comfort room]), says Marilou Amador, one of the beneficiaries and a mother in the community.

The family representatives also received Ascorbic Acid Poten-Cee from Pascual Laboratories and home care products from P&G. Through the Integrated WASH program, Manila Water Foundation remains committed to care for the community stewards of the Ipo Watershed.