Manila Water releases sustainability report for 2010

MANILA, Philippines - Manila Water Co. has firmed up its commitment to provide a sustainable future with the release of its 2010 Sustainability Report.

The report underscores Manila Water’s commitment to empower people, protect the environment, and enhance sustainable development.

It observes the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) G3 Guidelines, a set of internationally-recognized standards for sustainability reporting, and attains for Manila Water a self-declared Level A application following its release, the first corporate report to achieve such status in the Philippines.

Highlights of the report include the company’s provision of 24/7 water supply to its 6.1 million customers in the East Zone of Metro Manila despite the reduced water allocation during the peak of the 2010 El Niño.

Of the said number, 1.7 million belong to urban poor communities served by the Tubig Para Sa Barangay (TPSB) or Water for Low-Income Communities Program which support the United Nations’ declaration of access to potable water as a fundamental human right, as well as contribute to the safe water target of the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) of environmental sustainability.

In addition, Manila Water reported that it has provided greater access to proper sanitation within its concession area through the 18,110 additional sewer connections it has installed during the year and the 242,026 households that benefited from its desludging services.

In the same year, new strategies have been undertaken to enhance the execution of the company’s climate change policy, following a year that was marked by tropical storm Ondoy’s massive destruction affecting its operations and customers.

Initiatives are focused toward the severely denuded Marikina Watershed, which greatly contributed to the massive floods of Ondoy. These include taking the lead in developing as comprehensive management plan, as well as committing to reforest 500 hectares of the area.

Significant improvements in the company’s occupational health and safety performance such as zero fatalities, injuries, lost days, and occupational diseases, have been also achieved as a result of the company’s programs.

Manila Water’s net income of P3.99 billion in 2010 had a rippling effect to the local and national economies as 50,000 jobs have been created through the company’s combined capital and operational expenditures.

Additionally, P17 million worth of job orders have been provided to the cooperatives supported by the company through the Kabuhayan Para Sa Barangay (KPSB) or Livelihood and Community Development Program.