Maynilad Water Services, Inc. (Maynilad) is at the forefront of the Philippine celebration of the 2011 Walk for Water on March 22 at the SM Mall of Asia (MOA).
The Philippines Walks for Water is the Philippine counterpart of the World Walks for Water global event that would take place from March 19-22. Thousands of Filipinos would converge and walk for two kilometers around MOA to raise awareness of the current water and sanitation crisis, and demand strong government action to stop the needless deaths of children every day due to the lack of access to clean water. Some of the walkers would even carry containers filled with water to experience the plight of thousands of people — many of whom are children – who have to walk for several kilometers just to get water.
After the walk, the country’s leaders and water stakeholders would meet at the SM MOA Music Hall where President Benigno Aquino III will listen to the stories of children telling him about how clean water has improved the quality of their lives. A Water Declaration from the National Executive-Legislative dialogue that transpired in Congress would also be given to the President.
A similar event will be staged in Bicol and Cagayan de Oro and their activities will be beamed live to the Manila event via Smart Communications, Inc.
“The Philippines Walks for Water is a key component of the country’s first celebration of World Water Week, which brings to light the plight of 16 million Filipinos who do not have access to clean and safe water. Maynilad is championing this global campaign,” said Ricky P. Vargas, Maynilad’s President and CEO.
With the help of the Millennium Development Goal Fund (MDGF) 1919, which is a 3-year joint program of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), Maynilad is working on a campaign that aims to enhance the sustainable delivery of clean and safe water to about 122,000 households in five regions of the Philippines.
Maynilad Water Services, Inc. is owned and managed by DMCI-MPIC Water Company, Inc. (DMWCI), a joint venture between Metro Pacific Investments Corporation (MPIC) and DMCI Holdings, Inc. (DMCIHI).