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In line with this, Manila Water Foundation launched its #WASHinPandemic program. This aims to provide proper hygiene facilities and supplies as well as to spread awareness of proper hygiene with the goal of safeguarding communities against the threat of COVID-19. Below is their press release.

Since the onset of the pandemic, proper handwashing has been recommended as the first line of defense against COVID-19. Local and global leaders echo this reminder every chance they get. While access to water, sanitation, and hygiene – or WASH – is crucial to combat the virus, it remains a privilege. 

Supporting the health and safety protocols directed by the national government, Manila Water Foundation (MWF) launched its #WASHinPandemic program aimed at providing proper hygiene facilities, urgent supplies, and wider awareness to safeguard communities and institutions against the threat of COVID-19. 

WASH in Pandemic

To encourage the life-saving habit of proper handwashing, Dr. Beverly Lorraine Ho of the Department of Health – speaking at the inauguration of the handwashing facilities installed in Marikina back in 2020 – emphasized that access to water and hygiene is highly essential. 

“We know that one of the biggest contributors to sicknesses that we might be able to get would be lack of access to water and poor hygiene,” she said. “Part of the BIDA Solusyon behavior that we’re pushing for is “I” or “I-sanitize ang mga kamay, iwas hawak sa mga bagay.” To make that happen, we need to have available or accessible handwashing facilities.”

With this, MWF urgently designed “hybrid” hygiene facilities that would allow users to switch on the tap in two ways: with a lever that can be used by hand or elbow, or by stepping on a foot pedal. This ensures that there is less hand contamination while using the facility. 

Manila Water Foundation’s #WASHinPandemic program found a perfect partner in the SAFE Philippines campaign of P&G Safeguard Philipines. Together, they aimed to provide hygiene facilities in key public spaces such as health centers, quarantine facilities, public markets, transportation hubs, and local government facilities.

One of the partner cities under this partnership is San Juan City in Metro Manila. New handwashing facilities were installed at two high foot traffic areas in the City – the Agora Public Market and Barangay Balong Bato Health Center.

During the inauguration of the hygiene facilities installed in San Juan City, Mayor Francis Zamora stressed the importance of these infrastructures in supporting the City’s fight against the pandemic.

“Ako po’y naniniwala na malaking tulong ito upang maipababa natin ang bilang ng active cases ng COVID-19 dito po sa aming lungsod… kaya po mula sa aking puso, maraming maraming salamat po. [I believe that this will help lower the number of active cases of COVID-19 in our city… so from the bottom of my heart, thank you very much],” he said.

Aside from the “hybrid” feature, there is also a meter distance between faucets for users to observe physical distancing. To make it more accessible for all, there is a lowered sink that can be easily used by children and persons with disabilities (PWDs).

Equally important, each facility is built with three faucets with soap containers and installed with signages about COVID-19 precautionary measures, proper handwashing, and the responsible use of water. These ensure that the facility is not merely an access point but also acts as an avenue to magnify important messages during the pandemic.

WASH in Schools

Recognizing the role of handwashing in disease prevention – especially in young children – MWF collaborates with organizations from the public and private sector to augment WASH interventions in school communities.

This may be through providing appropriately designed hygiene facilities or essential hygiene products.

The program aims to protect parents and teachers coming to school to prepare, distribute, and receive modules while students are learning from home and prepare the campus for the eventual return of students and teachers beyond the pandemic.   

The WASH in Pandemic program paved the way to establish effective synergies with like-minded organizations to bring the necessary interventions to a targeted sector.

Through its participation at the League of Corporate Foundations (LCF), MWF led the implementation of LCFWinS: Lingap Eskwela sa Pandemya. This is LCF’s call for collective impact among its member corporations and corporate foundations. The initiative also supports the Department of Education’s WASH in Schools (WinS) program with the goal of providing adequate WASH facilities for schools across the country. 

Aside from hygiene facilities, much-needed information, education, and communication (IEC) materials were also distributed to partner schools to raise awareness about proper hygiene practices and COVID-19 precautionary measures.

Current partners of the program include corporations such as the Manila Water Company, Manila Water Philippine Ventures, P&G Safeguard Philippines, and Holcim Philippines, non-government organizations including League of Corporate Foundations, ABS-CBN Foundation, Ayala Foundation, BPI Foundation, Insular Foundation, Metrobank Foundation, Pilipinas Shell Foundation, One Young World, and World Vision Philippines. The project is accredited by and in partnership with key national government agencies namely the Department of Education and the Department of Health.

Overall, the program has already built 54 hand hygiene facilities for 15 cities and municipalities, distributed a total of 18,580 hygiene kits with IECs such as posters, stickers, and WASH storybooks, and served around 393,752 beneficiaries from communities and public schools.

Gilma Porley, Principal of Mabini Central School in Batangas – one of the school beneficiaries – shared that the project would be a great help in pushing WASH in Schools forward despite the distance learning modality.

“Ang common problems or issues na nasasabi nila sa main – aside po sa kakulangan ng budget dahil sila nga po ay focused na sa kanilang food supplies – ‘yon pong handwashing, hindi na nila magawa dahil wala nga pong mga sabon. [The common issues that we were told – aside from lack of budget on food supplies – is practicing proper handwashing, because of the lack of hygiene supplies],” she said.

“Napakalaking tulong po nang nalaman namin na isa kami sa recipients, dahil maipapagpatuloy po nila ‘yong health habits sa kani-kanilang mga tahanan. Sa ganoong paraan, hindi lamang po sila ang matututo pati rin po ‘yong mga relatives, mga kapatid, at mga magulang.  [This is a huge help when we learned that our school is one of the recipients of this project because the pupils will be able to continue these healthy habits in their own homes. This way, they are not the only ones who will learn, but also their relatives, siblings, and parents],” she added.

Collaborate with Manila Water Foundation for WASH

The journey to bring WASH all over the country extends even beyond the pandemic. Join us in making WASH an essential element in public health, especially during this time of the pandemic. 

You can make an online transfer via GCash QR code or BPI. Here are the details:

MANILA WATER FOUNDATION INC.
BPI Account No. 3081-1182-39
SWIFT CODE: BOPIPHMM

You can also visit the Manila Water Foundation page manilawaterfoundation.org to donate.

For proper acknowledgment, take a screenshot of the proof of deposit. You can send this via private message or email foundation@manilawater.com. Donate to this important mission and enable our team to bring WASH to all communities. – Rappler.com

[DSWD Authority/Solicitation Permit No. DSWD-SB-SP-00055-2020]