MWF ties up with Globe and Boracay Island Water
for Boracay rehabilitation initiatives
MWF, Globe, and BIWC tie-up for the rehabilitation project in Boracay. This is in support of BIWC’s wider program, Amot-Amot Kita sa Malimpyong Boracay or Tulong-Tulong Tayo sa Malinis na Boracay.
Manila Water Foundation (MWF), Globe Telecom, and Boracay Island Water Company (BIWC) recently signed a Memorandum of Agreement for the construction of a communal septic tank in Sitio Ilaya, Barangay Balabag in Boracay, as part of the partnership’s P1.3 million rehabilitation projects for the island.
With the announcement of Boracay’s closure for its island water rehabilitation Initiatives, Globe Telecom has reached out to Manila Water with the intention of implementing projects that will contribute in improving the current sanitation conditions of the island. Manila Water Foundation, in partnership with Boracay Water, proposed a set of projects targeting the local communities.
"I am very happy Globe came to us and asked what we can do. In Boracay, there are low-lying areas that sewer lines cannot reach. This initiative will help ensure homeowners and tourists in Boracay will have a safe and decent place to stay in." Manila Water Foundation President Geodino Carpio shared.
The major thrust of the partnership is to help the government rehabilitate the island through embarking on a long-term conservation program to address untreated sewage that triggers pollution on its water bodies. The provision of a communal septic tank for the 15 households in Sitio Ilaya, Barangay Balabag will ensure proper waste and used water containment for this low-lying community. This is in support of BIWC’s wider program, Amot-Amot Kita sa Malimpyong Boracay or Tulong-Tulong Tayo sa Malinis na Boracay. The construction of the communal septic tank will start in July.
Issa Cabreira, Globe Senior Vice President for Consumer Mobile Business, said that it is their responsibility as Filipino citizens to contribute in Boracay rehabilitation.
"Beyond business, we will help make the island a safe and sustainable ecotourism destination through replicable and scalable solutions." said Cabreira.
MWF and its partners will also provide 8,000 packs of Vigormin, a low-cost, organic solution to boost the removal rate of organic pollutants in septic tanks for improved quality of used water, to more than 4,000 households who are not yet connected to sewer lines in Barangay Balabag, ManocManoc, and Yapak in Boracay. Dr. Merlinda Palencia, the project lead of Vigormin and one of the MWF’s 2015 Prize for Engineering Excellence awardees, will be providing technical assistance and IEC on the product to the communities.
Through this, all parties hope that this will be a start of a continuous partnership in finding solutions that harness the power of collaboration, enabling change for a sustainable environment.