Manila Water, LLDA partner anew for environmental project

MANILA, Philippines – Manila Water has renewed its partnership with the Laguna Lake Development Authority (LLDA) for an environmental project.

“The renewal of our partnership would deepen our agencies’ commitments for environmental protection and promote increased awareness among all stakeholders on the need to protect and conserve our water resources,” Manila Water president Gerardo Ablaza Jr. said.

The LLDA has been an active partner of Manila Water’s “Toka Toka” movement since 2012.

Ablaza said part of the partnership is the creation of barangay champions in compliance with Republic Act 9003 or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act and RA 9275 or the Clean Water Act of 2004.

LLDA executive director Nereus Acosta said the partnership is also aimed at further securing individual and institutional commitments to do their “toka” or share to revive rivers in the metropolis as a major component of environmental protection.

“You cannot protect what you cannot and do not value. You have to learn to value first so that you’ll have greater involvement and stake in its protection and conservation,” Acosta said.

He said the agency would also take part not only in Manila Water’s Lingap Sapa project or the cleanup of creeks, but also in the information and education campaigns for the international coastal cleanup.

The campaign promotes proper disposal of garbage, desludging of septic tanks, connecting to Manila Water’s sewer network and supporting community-based sanitation and used-water projects.