Manila Water Foundation (MWF), the social development arm of Manila Water Company, has received two (2) Silver Anvils in the recently held 60th Anvil Awards Gabi ng Parangal, organized by the Public Relations Society of the Philippines.
MWF, with its partners from the Prime Infra Foundation, received an Anvil for their water supply system project for the Aeta community in Katutubo Village, Porac, Pampanga.
MWF also bagged an Anvil for its Project Drink Pilipinas! Campaign which involves the provision of refrigerated drinking fountains to public schools and institutions.
Manila Water Foundation (MWF), the social development arm of Manila Water Company, has received two (2) Silver Anvils in the recently held 60th Anvil Awards Gabi ng Parangal.
Manila Water Foundation bagged the first silver Anvil under the Public Relations Program – Sustainability Communications category, with its partner Prime Infra Foundation, for their entry “Digging Deep Together: A Water System for the Katutubo Village in Porac, Pampanga.” Through the said program, MWF and Prime Infra Foundation responded to the long-standing water access challenge faced by the Ayta Mag-indi cultural community of the Katutubo Village by developing a water system facility.
The deepwell facility is complemented with the establishment of an organized, Aeta-led Water Access, Sanitation and Hygiene or WASH Group, to manage and maintain the community investment, ensuring the sustainability of the WASH infrastructure.
The project was implemented for one year, from October 2023 to October 2024 which focused on parallel developments, the construction of a new Deep Well Facility and the formation of a local WASH Group. This Group is composed of community representatives who are mostly women, participated in learning sessions to be equipped with technical knowledge on the operations and management of the water system and complemented with activities that target to reinforce positive behaviors, to strengthen leadership skills. The intervention directly contributes to fulfilling the provisions of UN SDG 6, the access to clean water and sanitation for all through the strategy of UN SDG 17, Partnerships for the Goals.
PRSP also awarded its second silver Anvil to MWF’s “Project Drink Pilipinas! Hydrating Filipinos for Health,” under the Public Relations Program – Corporate Social Responsibility category.
Project Drink Pilipinas! aims to promote hydration for health by providing access to clean, potable water through the installation of refrigerated drinking fountains for the public: students in schools, community members and visitors in busy community spaces.
Project Drink Pilipinas! also supports proper solid waste management and nudges the community to reduce the use of PET bottles and lessen the consumption of sugary drinks, especially among children. From public schools, Manila Water Foundation has expanded the reach of the project to public parks, hospitals and health centers, airports, and tourism centers.
As of 2024, a total of 207 units of Refrigerated Drinking Fountains are now installed in public schools and public service institutions in Metro Manila, Boracay Island in Aklan and Clark Freeport Zone in Pampanga. A total of 364,060 individuals now have access to clean and safe potable water.
Organized by the Public Relations Society of the Philippines, the annual Anvil Awards recognizes the outstanding programs and tools in the field of public relations and communications, through a rigorous selection process by esteemed PR professionals and a distinguished multi-sectoral jury.