MPIC, Maynilad partner with LLDA

MANILA, Philippines — Metro Pacific Investments Corp. and Maynilad Water Services, Inc., together with other companies in the MVP group, signed a Memorandum of Cooperation with the Laguna Lake Development Authority to jointly protect the Laguna Lake and its surrounding provinces, cities, and towns.

The cooperation is solidified through the Laguna de Bay Welfare Awareness or LAWA program spearheaded by MPIC under its Gabay Kalikasan advocacy and stresses the critical role that the Laguna Lake plays with respect to the social and economic development of the region.

LAWA aims to consolidate the group’s efforts in promoting awareness and establishing various programs in line with LLDA’s mandate to “transform Laguna Lake into a vibrant economic zone showcasing ecotourism by addressing the negative impact of watershed destruction, land conversion and pollution.”

Given the importance of the lake to Metro Manila’s ecosystem, MPIC and LLDA both recognize the need for collaborative efforts and partnerships between the public and private sectors for the sustainable development of the Laguna Lake for the benefit of present and future generations.

To formalize the partnership, a virtual signing event was held on Aug. 23 and was attended by key representatives from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, LLDA and the MVP Group.

MPIC and Maynilad, through LAWA will further align with LLDA to identify key areas of collaboration. Initial priority areas include the promotion of waste water management systems to help address the lake’s algal bloom problem, organization of clean-up drives for the tributaries, and the establishment of programs to hamper the proliferation of water hyacinths, the most damaging aquatic plant worldwide, currently covering approximately 20 percent of Laguna de Bay.

Other MPIC Group Companies supporting this initiative include MetroPac Water Investments Corporation, Meralco Powergen Corporation and Global Business Power Corporation.

The commitment to protect and rehabilitate Laguna de Bay through its LAWA initiative is aligned with MPIC’s efforts to contribute to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 6 Clean Water and Sanitation, 11 Sustainable Cities and Communities, 13 Climate Action, 14 Life Below Water, and 15 Life on Land. It is also in support of the United Nations’ Decade of Ecosystem Restoration which aims to prevent, halt and reverse the degradation of ecosystems on every continent and in every ocean.