RIPPLES - Maynilad Water Services · 2019-12-05 · january - march 2017 ripples i the official company newsletter of maynilad water services, inc. ripples i the official company

T H E O F F I C I A L C O M P A N Y N E W S L E T T E R O F M A Y N I L A D W A T E R S E R V I C E S , I N C .

VOLUME 8 | ISSUE 1 | JANUARY – MARCH 2017

R I P P L E S

Maynilad at 10HigHligHts of Maynilad’s 10 years | IT SECURITY 101 | Planting tHe seeds

INT’L AWARD gIVEN FOR gREEN INITIATIVES | fitness Musts BINONDO FOOD CRAWL

RIPPLES I THE OFFICIAL COMPANY NEWSLETTER OF MAYNILAD WATER SERVICES, INC. RIPPLES I THE OFFICIAL COMPANY NEWSLETTER OF MAYNILAD WATER SERVICES, INC. JANUARY - MARCH 2017JANUARY - MARCH 2017

T H E O F F I C I A L C O M P A N Y N E W S L E T T E R O F M A Y N I L A D W A T E R S E R V I C E S , I N C .

R I P P L E SRipples is the official publication of Maynilad Water Services, Inc. for Maynilad employees and friends. Ripples welcomes contributions, letters, photos, and artwork for publication. However, these materials become Ripples property and are subject to editorial changes. Send contributions to the Corporate Communications Department, G/F Maynilad Bldg., MWSS Compound, Katipunan Road, Balara, Quezon City; Tel. Nos. 981-3451 to 52; Email: [email protected] and [email protected].

JENNIFER C. RuFo Editor-in-Chief

KaRMINa M. alEJaNDRoManaging Editor

MITCHIE M. aRCaINaREGGIE M. INDoNAssociate Editors

JECElyN M. lEoBRERaWriter

GRaCE a. laxaCirculation Manager

RyaN B. JaMoRa SHERWIN DC. MENDozaRyaN S. oRIlloTERESITa C. MoNTaNoMIRla M. DE lEoNElIzaBETH S. DavIDlolIT M. loTaNolaN C. ClEMENTECorrespondents

MIKHaIl D. SaNCHEzKRISTIaN RoSS S. aQuINoIllustrators

Maynilad’s corporate history has been a story of struggle, transformation and victory. The past decade has definitely not been smooth-sailing, but the organization’s hard work and dedication gave rise to tangible benefits in the form of improved service levels for over 9 million people.

our story continues, with the “Maynilad Next Generation” program setting the roadmap for sustained success in the face of daunting new challenges that face our industry, such as climate change and the different water requirements of customers.

This issue of Ripples looks back at our past 10 years as a re-privatized company so that we may all remember how far we have come, and look forward to a brighter tomorrow for Maynilad and for the many people who are badly in need of our services.

let the next chapter of Maynilad’s life be one of continued positive transformation.

Cheers!

ISaNG DEKaDa, Dala ay GINHaWa

EDITOR’S NOTE WHAT’S INSIDE

Cover story

News

Features

Columns

Maynilad at 10

after the period of rehabilitation, Maynilad now moves toward an age of integration and growth with the ‘‘Maynilad next Generation” program setting the roadmap and gaining quick wins on its first year of implementation.

HiGHliGHts of Maynilad’s 10 years

a brief snapshot of the company’s journey from “troubled utility” to

“dynamic water solutions company”.

Head for tHe West

Binondo food crawl

doC riC says

fitness musts

stars of Maynilad

Jemar sing: Working for nature through Maynilad

Maynilad CeleBrates 10tH anniversary

Golden KuBeta aWards Mounted | Maynilad, Pt Moya indonesia siGn Jv

neW Cfo aPPointed | 923 Mld Water reCovered sinCe 2008

international aWard Given for Green initiatives | CnrW reCeives triPle iso CertifiCations

₱13.2B allotted for 2017 infra ProJeCts

FUN RUN FOR MEDIA PARTNERS HELD

NINE ANVIL AWARDS BAggED | 100% zERO VARIANCE IN 2016 PHYSICAL INVENTORY

your PaGe

introducing PhilHydro Bulacan

Men and WoMen of Maynilad

Maynilad Water academy

tuBee & Co.

nrW WatCH

Maynilad’s nrW services on a roll

it seCurity 101: HoW seCure are you?

although systems are in place to protect users, Maynilad employees can do

something to ensure that they remain safe from cyber threats and attacks.

PlantinG tHe seeds: taPPinG sCHools to Build WasteWater aWareness

Maynilad is improving public understanding about wastewater

management, and one of the means it does this is through interactive

learning for high school students.

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FEATuRES

No one can dispute the fact that Maynilad has improved considerably in the 10 years since its operations were transferred to new owners. The company has gotten out of corporate rehabilitation, invested ₱98.4 billion in capital expenditure projects, and significantly improved water and wastewater services for more than 9 million people in the West zone.

Its corporate transformation is so dramatic that it has been hailed here and abroad for its successful turnaround story. Maynilad President and CEO Ramoncito S. Fernandez would be the first to point out that the dedication and hard work of the

Early winsFernandez says that Maynilad has generally surpassed all of its operational and financial goals in 2016, with Billed Volume, Non-Revenue Water (NRW), and Billed Service targets attained despite supply constraints and infrastructure limitations.

Worthy of note is the attainment of capital expenditure disbursement targets, which RSF attributes to a much-improved Program Management, with the decentralization of contracts management and hiring of end-to-end managers now monitoring pro-ject progress from conceptualization to commissioning.

Maynilad Chief Operating Officer Randolph T. Estrellado recalls that 2016 has been particularly challenging. Unprecedented raw water quality issues and increasing supply demand that tested the limits of the water network gave rise to customer service issues. The com-pany also had to catch-up on service level obligations committed under the business plan.

He noted that although the delayed tariff adjustment affected our ability to fully address our commitments, we knew that reorganizing was imperative to better respond to this concern. “Fortunately, our Nextgen planning and subsequent reorganization early in the year allowed us to address and implement mitigating measures against many of the difficulties that arose. But we were also reminded that many of these issues require longer-term solutions,” Estrellado says.

BiggEst oBstaclEIndeed, there are no quick solutions to the effects of climate change on Maynilad operations. Its impact on raw water availability and quality were felt last year, and this prompted the company to take on immediate upgrades in its treatment facilities.

“While we have already awarded most of the projects that will address these concerns within one to two years, we have also updated our op-erating protocols to mitigate against the worst consequences of these challenges, and revised our commu-nication plans with our customers to proactively inform them and provide assistance when our mitigation plans are insufficient to address service level issues,” Estrellado says.

Fernandez acknowledges that al-though these issues caught Maynilad off-guard, the subsequent positive reaction of the organization was remarkable. “We had to put our acts together in a very short period of time to address the challenges, both operationally and also in terms of customer interfacing. There are now programs in place, and actions are being taken to address the impact of climate change.”

Besides ongoing projects to enhance the “climate change” resiliency of treatment facilities and the acceleration of CAPEX programs, Management is looking to improve the company’s ability to meet service obligations by sustaining Nextgen plans.

Estrellado says that included in the agenda is to monitor performance following the integration of the Business Area (BA)-NRW and BA Technical Management, and the creation of a new Integrated Asset Management (IAM) division.

“We realize that part of the service issues we encountered in the previous years have been due to the lack of a comprehensive preventive management program, exacerbated by growing customer requirements that leave us with little room for down-time to perform even routine maintenance,” Estrellado observes. “In 2017, as our IAM gradually builds up its team, we hope to begin a program that will optimize the life of our assets, striking a balance between the demands of operations and the exigencies of maintenance.”

Meanwhile, a more comprehensive business development plan is also in the works. Maynilad recently won a contract to supply bulk water to the water district of Bocaue in Bulacan through its subsidiary, PhilHydro. “Since we expect businesses outside the concession to form a more significant part of our total revenues in the coming years, the learning from this start-up year will provide a roadmap on how we can better navigate growth outside the concession,” Estrellado shares.

Fernandez is particularly keen on extending Maynilad’s success story to other areas that badly need reliable water and wastewater services. “I really do hope that the learnings, achievements, and experience that our people have had in Maynilad can be used in supporting water development in the provinces and our Asian neighbors, because there are still many people out there who do not have access to piped-in water supply.

“I continue to believe in Maynilad. I support our Nextgen objectives and aim to delight our customers. We will never go wrong, as long as we continue to be passionate about serving our customers and our country,” Fernandez says.

Maynilad’s huge investments in infrastructure improvements over the past 10 years have given rise to enhanced service levels.

among the objectives of the Maynilad Next Generation Program is to enhance customer service delivery.

Treatment facilities are now going through upgrades for better resiliency in view of climate change.

nExt on thE chEcklist

employees made it all possible.“We have come a long way from the financially troubled water utility that Maynilad was 10 years ago. Despite the environment of uncertainty under which we operated, our people pushed on and delivered results beyond expectations,” he says.

With the period of rehabilitation done, Maynilad now moves toward an age of integration and growth. The roadmap has been set with the launch last year of “Maynilad Next generation” (Nextgen), and huge gains have already been made one year into the program.

By Jennifer C. Rufo

Maynilad at 10

4 5RIPPLES I THE OFFICIAL COMPANY NEWSLETTER OF MAYNILAD WATER SERVICES, INC. RIPPLES I THE OFFICIAL COMPANY NEWSLETTER OF MAYNILAD WATER SERVICES, INC. JANUARY - MARCH 2017JANUARY - MARCH 2017

FEATuRES

Maynilad’s corporate history has been marked by a series of highs and lows, with the organization constantly changing in response to new challenges. On this page spread is a brief snapshot of the past 10 years, to give us a better appreciation of Maynilad’s transformation from “troubled utility” to “dynamic water solutions company”.

• The West Zone concession was re-privatized under new owners, Metro Pacific Investments Corp. and DMCI Holdings, Inc.

• Maynilad’s petition to get out of corporate rehabilitation was approved on December 19, 2007, lifting the restrictions imposed on the company by the Debt and Capital Restructuring Agreement (DCRA) under which it had to operate.

• A dedicated Central Non-Revenue Water Division was created to address the problem of water losses in the West Zone.

• Whereas banks previously had no confidence in Maynilad, under the new owners, the company signed a 10-year corporate notes issue worth $365 million with lead underwriters BDO Capital & Investment Corp. and Development Bank of the Philippines. This was to partially fund Maynilad’s five-year plan to rehabilitate pipes and significantly reduce NRW by 2012.

• After 25 years of severe water shortage, potable water finally flowed to BF Homes Parañaque after Maynilad completed several pipe-laying projects in the south.

• Community-based water management cooperative, Samahang Tubig Maynilad, was launched in Brgy. 123, Tondo, Manila, to address issues that prevent informal settlers from gaining access to safe, reliable and affordable water.

• The World Health Organization adopted the Maynilad Water Safety Plan.

SETTINg THE DIRECTION LAYINg THE gROUNDWORk EARLY WINS2007 2008 2009

• Maynilad tapped Laguna Lake as additional water source with the operation of its new Putatan Water Treatment Plant.

• The MWSS approves the 15-year extension of the Concession Agreement.

• Customer service initiatives such as the Read-and-Bill System and the “Text Tubig” Infoboard were launched.

PURSUINg ExPANSION

2010

• The Maynilad Water Academy was launched as the first learning institution in the Philippines dedicated to the advancement of the water and wastewater industry.

• Maynilad becomes the first Philippine company to receive ISO 14064:2006 certification for its gHg quantification and reporting initiative from TUV Rheinland.

ENSURINg INTERgENERATIONAL EqUITY

2011

• LandBank, Manila Water and Maynilad signed a subsidiary loan agreement to facilitate the implementation of the Metro Manila Wastewater Management Project (MWMP), which will support investments in wastewater collection and treatment, and septage management.

• Maynilad formally took over the operations of Philippine Hydro, Inc. (PhilHydro).

• Maynilad launched its new Corporate Vision, Mis-sion, and Values statements.

ONTO NEW CHALLENgES

2012

• Marubeni Corporation of Japan joined Maynilad as one of its major shareholders.

• Maynilad and Olongapo City signed the Share Purchase Agreement, which transfers the city’s ownership of 10% of Subic Water to the West Zone concessionaire.

• Maynilad laid down a five-year roadmap for the installation of a centralized automation and remote control system connecting Maynilad’s water and wastewater networks, and allowing facilities to be controlled from command centers.

SUSTAININg SUCCESS

2013

• Maynilad won its arbitration case against the MWSS.

• The Maynilad Cadet Engineer Program is recognized by the International Water Association’s Professional Development Awards.

• Maynilad launched the “Think Maynilad” Innofest—a program designed to encourage employees to embrace innovation. It rewards ground-breaking ideas that contribute to improving the company’s competitive advantage.

ENSURINg BUSINESS CONTINUITY

2014

• Maynilad changes its slogan from “Dumadaloy ang ginhawa” to “Higit sa tubig ang aming serbisyo” to reflect the brand promise of service beyond water.

• New customer service channels (text hotline and social media pages) were launched to make Maynilad services more acces-sible to customers.

• Maynilad achieved company-wide ISO certification, and also adopted new management systems to further improve its opera-tions—specifically, it adopted an Energy Management System and formulated a Sanitation Safety Plan.

• The company embarked on a transformation program dubbed “Maynilad Next generation”. This is the three-year business strategy covering the period 2016 to 2018, championed by new President and CEO Ramoncito S. Fernandez.

• Maynilad was recognized by the Safety Organiza-tion of the Philippines, Inc. (SOPI) for attaining an all-time high record of 20 Million Man Hour No Loss Time Accident in all of its facilities and offices.

CHANgINg MINDSETS FUTURE-PROOFINg

2015 2016

By Karmina M. alejandro

HigHligHts of Maynilad’s 10 years


FEATuRES

Planting the seeds

InteractIve LearnIng

MeasurabLe resuLts

Tapping schools To build wasTewaTer awareness

For most people, since wastewater is out of sight, it is out of mind. This lack of concern leaves people unaware that they can help in man-aging wastewater.

True to its tagline of delivering service beyond water, Maynilad not only provides the infrastructure to effectively manage wastewater, it also embarks on information campaigns to build public awareness about this vital service.

According to a study done by the global Water Challenge (gWC), there is evidence that children can bring home messages about health and hygiene, and over time, influence the behavior of their families and communities. guided by this, the Wastewater Management Division (WMD)—in cooperation with the Commercial and Marketing Division’s (CMD) Maynilad Water Academy and Corporate Communications—developed a wastewater education module geared toward high school students whose schools are located near

Maynilad’s wastewater treatment facilities.

Schools located within the vicinity of these treatment facilities were selected, as opposed to areas that are not yet covered by the company’s sewage services. This was to help make the lessons more concrete to the students because of the presence of physical infrastructure, as suggested by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF). The choice of schools was also done to help promote Maynilad’s wastewater treatment facilities within the community.

For the pilot year (2016) of implementation of the wastewater education module, the company focused on schools located in areas affected by the initial component of Maynilad’s Wastewater Expansion Program—i.e., the San Juan River Basin. As one of the main river systems in Metro Manila, the San Juan River empties out to the Pasig River and eventually into the Manila Bay.

The ad-hoc group designed the module to follow the Participatory Learning and Actions (PLA) approach. By encouraging students to share their own experiences with wastewater and using interactive games, Maynilad envisioned the module to allow students to learn from their actions and that of their classmates. This way, instead of spoon-feeding the information to them, the module would allow the students to feel that the answers to the issues presented were logical conclusions that came from them.

To keep the lessons light, the les-sons centered on how the students can apply wastewater management in their own lives. From sharing the basic concepts and aiming to build appreciation for the services; the module goes on to call upon the students to partake in wastewater management at home and in public areas.

There were three activities featured in the module:

1. “Konek Wastewater” tests how well students remember the steps involved in the Urban Water Cycle. This helps to determine if the students understood the concepts in the expanded version of the water cycle, and if they can appreciate Maynilad’s role in providing them services from the source up to effluent release.

In 2016, WMD and CMD reached a total of 10 schools and 505 stu-dents. Based on the five-item quiz administered as part of the evaluation, students received an average score of 76%. The passing rate set is 60%. Educators, including teachers and school administrators, also gave

high praise to the program. When asked to rate the module from 1 to 5, with 5 being the highest, the educators gave the module a grade of 4.5. All the educators surveyed said that the module effectively raised awareness about wastewater management.

They also said that the module also

encourages them to discuss and incorporate wastewater management in their own lessons.

This year, the groups are stepping up their game in order to reach more schools and enjoin more people in the effort help protect the environment and our communi-ties.

Students from the Holy Child academy learn more about wastewater services through the implementation of Maynilad’s Wastewater Education Module in their school.

angelicum student Iverson Guzman proudly holding up her wastewater hugot line.

2. “Hugot Wastewater” urges students to recall and apply the concepts discussed and come up with related hugot or pick-up lines from them. For reference, hugot lines are dramatic statements based on concepts or experiences that can somehow be related to romance or heartbreak.

Students gamely took on the challenge and unleashed their feelings, examples of which are:

- Buti pa ang Maynilad, may solusyon sa problema (like wastewater). Eh bakit ikaw, sumuko agad? (At least

Maynilad finds solutions to problems (like wastewater). How come you just gave up?)

- Wastewater ka talaga, ‘no? ‘Nung una kasi malabo pa, pero ngayon, malinaw na… walang tayo. (You really are like wastewater, huh? In the beginning, it is hazy, but now it’s clear…clear that there is no “us”.)

- Para akong wastewater sa ‘yo. Binigyan mo nga ng kalinawan, pinakawalan mo naman sa dulo. (I’m like wastewater to you. You gave me clarity only to let me go in the end.)

- Sana wastewater na lang ako, paramaranasan ko naman ang ma-treatnang maayos at mapahalagahan.(I wish I were wastewater, so I canfinally experience what it’s like to betreated well and valued.)

- I can be your Maynilad, and you can be my wastewater. I can change you for the better.

3. “Relate Wastewater” uses the concept of the gaming applica-tion, Four-Pics-One-Word. It shows four different pictures tied with one concept that the students should be able to recall.

By Karmina M. alejandro


NEWS

Maynilad celebrates 10th anniversary

By lorenne alejandrinoBy Jecelyn Macahindog-leobrera

Clean, sustainable, and affordable water for more than nine million filipinos. in a span of 10 years, maynilad has been able to improve the quality of life of Customers in the west Zone of the Greater manila area throuGh world-Class water and wastewater serviCes.

Through a night of looking back at milestones achieved (as well as les-sons learned), Maynilad celebrated its 10th year of service under the management of Metro Pacific Investments Corporation, DMCI Holdings, Inc. and Marubeni Corp. The event, held at Le Pavillon in Pasay City, was attended by some 300 partners and stakeholders who have largely contributed to the com-pany’s success.

“Maynilad is now a dynamic water solutions company, with renewed focus on putting customers’ needs above all else. Whatever success the company has achieved over the past years, we have all of you to thank,” said Maynilad Chairman Manuel V. Pangilinan, remembering the initial struggles and eventual turnaround of the company.

Joining Maynilad President and CEO Ramoncito S. Fernandez in leading the 10th anniversary

celebration were past Maynilad presidents, directors and top management members, including former Public Works Secretary Rogelio L. Singson and incumbent PLDT Transformation Head Victorico P. Vargas.

“There will be more challenges ahead, and more people demanding reliable water service. But with a sound strategy in place—and with the stout hearts of the men and women of Maynilad—I am confident that we will come out on top, no matter the circumstance, dahil higit sa tubig ang aming serbisyo,” Fernandez declared.

One of the many positive changes in Maynilad over the past decade involves its Information Technology (IT) system transformation, which resulted to more accurate data recording and improved efficiencies in business processes and services. Part of the company’s continued service improvement plan is to keep its network secure.

Maynilad’s Information Technology Services (ITS) Division knows that data should be kept confidential, free of errors, and consistently available to those who need it. However, in an “always online” community, security concerns arise as users become vulnerable to cyber threats and at-tacks (e.g., scamming, phishing, etc.).

This begs the question: How secure are we in Maynilad?

The ITS Division conducted a series of roadshows for the whole Maynilad organization in response to this concern. Titled “IT Security 101”, the program’s main objective is to enhance employee awareness about common cyber threats, as well as the types of malicious software that can be used to steal information from users.

“Although ITS is at the forefront in looking for systems and protections for Maynilad employees, we all need to have a basic understanding of what are safe and unsafe practices so as to protect personal and com-pany data,” Chief Information Officer and ITS head Dr. Francisco C. Castillo explains.

“The internet is inherently unsafe and risky. Free, public Wi-Fi is never safe for transmitting confidential information, especially financial information,” he adds. “Always be wary of emails asking you to fill out details in a website link contained in

MvP (4th from left) leads the anniversary rites along with some of Maynilad’s Board of Directors and former CEos (from left) Manabu Sugawara, RSF, Takeshi Kurioka, Singson, vargas, atty. Marilyn victorio-aquino, Jose Ma. lim, and Jorge Consunji.

IT SecurITy 101: How Secure

are you?the email, and also emails from unknown recipients asking you to open an attachment.”

We all have a role in ensuring protection against cyber threats and attacks. In fact, the first line of defense of Maynilad’s network is us—the users.

“Maynilad’s IT security is everyone’s concern, not just ITS’s,” Castillo points out. He further notes that people should be careful about posting information online, as nothing ever gets deleted. “Do not give any of your private information to anyone, especially online,” he advises.

When in doubt about a particular email, Castillo urges employees to call the IT Service Desk. “They would know how to analyze suspicious emails or activities,” he says.

“IT Security 101” also offered practical tips and good practices in using IT devices such as smartphones, tablets, laptops, and personal computers. After the kick-off in the Balara Head Office last December, roadshows were rolled out to the different Business Area offices and facilities. IT security-related advisories were also sent through Maynilad Employee News to serve as reminders to employees.

How to Protect your coMPuter

• Always update your antivirus software• Always update and run the anti-malware software• As much as possible, use your laptop within office premises • Always keep your operating system (OS) updated• Do not use unlicensed software• Do not download illegitimate software• Be cautious and scan your USBs• Avoid using obvious and predictable passwords• Never transact with a link received via email• As much as possible, do not share folders in your network • In case of doubt, call Service Desk at 981-3385/981-3386

tyPes of Hacks and attacks

• Denial of Service (a.k.a. DOS) – Flooding of data to interrupt network services• Virus – Anomalous action on the PC/server• Keylogging – Malware that stores all keystrokes and sends these to the hacker• Social Engineering – Use of people to access confidential information• Phishing – An email seemingly coming from a trusted source asking a user to do something• Spoofing – A person or program successfully masquerades as another by falsifying data, thereby gaining an illegitimate advantage• Ransomware – Pay ransom in exchange of password to unlock encrypted files

FEATuRES

RSF thanks Maynilad’s stakeholders and partners for making the company’s dramatic turnaround possible.

MvP shakes hands with Singson while Sen. Cynthia villar looks on.

→ Coo Randolph Estrellado with lRa Head atty. Marivic Espiritu and Maynilad HR consultant Socorro Suarez.

Folk singer, Noel Cabangon, serenades the audience with his famous song, “Kanlungan”.


MAynIlAd ContInuEs to InvEst In thE IMprovEMEnt of

WAtEr And WAstEWAtEr

InfrAstruCturE.

P13.2B allotted for 2017 infra projects

Maynilad is investing about ₱13.2 billion this year for its water and wastewater infrastructure projects. To enhance water supply and pressure in the West zone, more than half of 2017 capital expenditures (CAPEX) or around ₱8.2 billion will go to Maynilad’s water infrastructure projects. Over ₱4.2 billion has been earmarked for water sources and operations support programs, which include improvement works in Maynilad’s La Mesa and Putatan Water Treatment Plants, upgrade and construction of pumping stations and reservoirs for better supply and pressure management, installation of primary pipelines for water service expansion, and enhancements of Common Purpose Facilities (CPF) particularly the Bigte Basins, La Mesa Aqueduct and Ipo Dam in Bulacan. Some ₱4 billion has been allotted

for Maynilad’s water loss recovery or Non-Revenue Water (NRW) Management and Service Expansion Program. This covers meter management, leak detection and repair, pipe replacements, and District Metered Area management. The rest of the budget will be spent for the modernization of data management and information systems, and maintenance of existing facilities, among other initiatives. On the other hand, about ₱5 billion of Maynilad’s 2017 capital investment will be spent for wastewater management projects, to increase sewerage coverage and maintain compliance with environmental standards. Of the said amount, some ₱4.1 billion will be used for the construction of a new Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) and its accompanying conveyance system in Las Piñas. Another ₱345

million will be allotted for the installation of new sewer service connections and all-works for wastewater management. The remaining budget will go to the automation and maintenance of STPs, lot acquisitions, and sanitation programs. Funding for Maynilad’s infrastructure investments will come from local and international bank loans, as well as from internally generated funds. The water company expects to generate around 40,549 jobs from its ₱13.2-billion CAPEX program this year. “Despite the delayed implementation of our Arbitral Award, we will pursue our investment plans for the West zone because we have an obligation to provide good water and wastewater services to our over 9 million customers,” said Maynilad President and CEO Ramoncito S. Fernandez.

Mr. Ricardo de los Reyes has been appointed as Maynilad’s new Chief Finance Officer (CFO) effective February 6, 2017. Mr. de los Reyes officially took over the position vacated by Mr. Randolph Estrellado, who currently serves as Maynilad’s Chief Operating Officer (COO).

De los Reyes will oversee all aspects of the water company’s finance from comptrollership and financial planning, to treas-ury, budget, investor relations, and corporate planning. Prior to joining Maynilad, he worked at IBM Analytics Solutions Lab Services (North America), helping introduce system-enabled enterprise reporting, performance management, data mining/predictive modelling and optimization solutions at various global corporations. He also has 15 years of extensive experi-ence in Finance, having held senior management posts at United Laboratories, Inc. and Johnson and Johnson.

De Los Reyes earned his commerce degree in Finance (cum laude), Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree and his Juris Doctor (Law) degree from Santa Clara University in California, USA. He is also a member of the California Bar.

New CFO appointed

Maynilad has recovered 923 million liters per day (MLD) of water since 2008 when it first launched its Non-Revenue Water Reduction (NRW) Program. This recovered volume is enough to fill up roughly 370 Olym-pic-size pools every day, and supply about 1.5 million households with potable water.

Maynilad’s NRW Reduction Program includes the regular replacement of old pipes. Since 2008, the company was able to replace a total of 1,709 kilometers of pipes, which is about

43% of the total water network Maynilad inherited after re-privatiza-tion in 2007.

Moreover, the company continues to operate state-of-the-art leak de-tection technologies. This enabled Maynilad to repair 27,936 pipe leaks in 2016 alone, bringing the total number of leaks repaired to 290,180 since 2008.

Maynilad’s NRW reduction program also includes meter and pressure management, active leakage con-trol, primary line assessment, selec-

tive pipe replacement, and District Metered Area (DMA) management. The company has spent some ₱18.95 billion for this program since 2008.

“Through massive investments in water loss recovery, we have man-aged to attain an NRW reduction of 36 percentage points in a span of only nine years. We will continue on this track so that more water supply can be plowed back into the network for delivery to more customers,” Maynilad President and CEO Ramoncito S. Fernandez said.

923 MLD water recovered since 2008

NEWSNEWS

CNRW engineers during a leak detection activity.


golden kubeta awards mounted int’l award

givEn for grEEn initiativEs

MayNilad, PT MOya iNdONesia sigN JV

In line with its goal of promoting better sanitation, Maynilad recently organized the first-ever golden Kubeta Awards—a social media contest that recognizes the best public restrooms in the Philippines.

The golden Kubeta Awards aim to

Maynilad officials led by President and CEo Ramoncito Fernandez (5th from right) and Coo Randolph Estrellado (rightmost) with this year’s Golden Kubeta awards top three winners.

CQESH head Francisco arellano, Chief operating offic-er Randolph Estrellado and CNRW head Irineo Dimaano receive the ISo certifications from Tuv Rheinland Phil-ippines managing director Tristan arwen loveres.

Integrated Management System head Enrique De Guzman (center) receives the trophy for Maynilad during the aCES awards 2016 in Singapore. With him are aCES awards Panel of Jury Dr. Jayanthi Desan (left) and MoRS Group Chief Executive officer Shanggari B.

promote the importance of toilets in personal hygiene and health. Since its launch in November 2016, over 100 entries were submitted to the contest.

Three restrooms from select establishments were declared

winners, namely: Petron gas Station in Quezon City (1st place), Park N’ Ride in Manila (2nd place) and De La Salle University in Manila (3rd place). These were chosen based on their cleanliness, accessibility, functionality and responsible water and wastewater management.

Maynilad and PT Moya Indonesia signed a Joint Venture Agreement last November 23, 2016 for the establishment of a joint venture company (JVCo) in Indonesia, tentatively named PT Water Tecnologia Indonesia.

The JVCo will provide water and wastewater services in Indonesia such as pipe network design and installation, and non-revenue water and wastewater management. Moya

Indonesia will own 51% of the JVCo, with Maynilad owning 49%. Pursuant to Indonesian laws, the JVCo’s principal license and incorporation will be subject to the approval of the Investment Coor-dinating Board and the Ministry of Justice, respectively, of Indonesia.

Moya Indonesia, which was established in 2011, owns 95% of PT Moya Bekasi Jaya, PT Moya Tangerang, and PT Moya Makassar, each of which has a service

concession arrangement with the Regional Drinking Water Company (PDAM) of Tirta Bhagasasi Bekasi Regency, Tirta Benteng Tangerang City and Tirta Dharma Makassar City, respectively, for the provision of bulk water to these areas.

Moya Indonesia is wholly owned by Moya Indonesia Holdings Pte. Ltd., a Singapore company which is in turn owned by Moya Holdings Asia Limited, a company listed at the Singapore Stock Exchange’s Catalist.

The Central Non-Revenue Water (CNRW) Division recently secured three ISO certifications from international auditing and certifica-tion body TUV Rheinland Philippines.

A total of nine certificates were awarded to three CNRW sites—its headquarters in Makati, Leak Detection Management office in Manila, and Integrated Meter Management laboratory in Pasay—after passing the strict audit for three management system standards: ISO 9001:2008 (Quality Management Systems), ISO 14001:2004 (Environmental Management Systems) and BS OHSAS 18001:2007 (Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems). These ISO certifications confirm that Maynilad meets international standards in its NRW-related systems and processes, which cover pipe replacements, leak detection and repair, and meter management. The CNRW Division oversees the company’s water loss reduction program.

Maynilad was hailed as one of the “Top green Companies in Asia” during the Asia Corporate Excellence & Sustainability (ACES) Awards 2016 held recently in Singapore. The ACES Awards, organized by Malaysian-based MORS group, is a prestigious award that recognizes Asia’s finest corporate leaders and companies in the areas of leadership and corporate social responsibility. Maynilad was given the “Top green Companies in Asia”

cnrW receives triple IsO certifications

award this year, along with four other companies from Thailand, Indonesia and Philippines. The award is given to companies that operate with minimal negative impact on the environment, community, and society while remaining financially viable. “We are very pleased to have won this award, as it validates the effectiveness of our programs to become a good environmental citizen,” said Maynilad President and CEO Ramoncito S. Fernandez.

NEWSNEWS


In line with its initiative to promote health and wellness, Maynilad invited its partners from the media to take time out from their hectic sched-ule and join the first-ever Maynilad Media Run.

The event, held last January 14 at La Mesa Compound in Quezon City, aims to promote a healthy and active lifestyle among media practitioners through running. It featured 3k, 5k and 10k run routes, catering to both beginners and hard-core maratho-ners.

About 700 runners—media practi-tioners from print, radio, television and online media, along with their friends and family members—reg-istered for the event. Represented were participants from gMA Net-work, DzBB, gMA Online, ABS-CBN, DzMM, TV5, Bloomberg, Business Mirror, BusinessWorld, Manila Bulle-tin, Philippine Daily Inquirer, Philip-pine Star, Malaya, Manila Times, Pilipino Star Ngayon, Pilipino Mirror, Bulgar, Remate, and staff from the Presidential Communications Opera-tions Office.

Besides the scenic views inside La Mesa Compound, the runners were treated to fun games, zumba ses-sions, and freebies from the booths set up by event sponsors.

The Maynilad Media Run 2017 was co-presented by Fitness First, Purple Life, zen Institute, Herbal Life, Sun-life, and United Laboratories, Inc.—With reports from Madeleine Zaide

aBS-CBN 2 reporters Carolyn Bonquin and Kiko Faulve with model Rey Talosig.

GMa 7’s love anover finished 5K.

Susan Enriquez of GMa 7 granting a selfie for her fans.

Talk ‘N Text Tropang Texters gamely joined the fun games with the participants.

Jonathan Papa of GMa 7 snags third place in the 10k Men’s Category. Giving the prizes are MWSS’s vicente Elefante and Maynilad’s Jennifer Rufo while event host, GMa 7 comedienne Maey Bautista, looks on.

Race finishers from the PCoo.

Media Run participants crowding around sponsor booths for free products and services.

Fun run For

media partners

held

Nine Anvil Awards baggedMaynilad won nine awards (five golds and four Silvers) during the recently concluded 52nd Anvil Awards held at the Shangri-La Hotel in Makati City.

gold Anvil Awards were given to Maynilad’s “ginhawa gardening” initiative under the Public Relations (PR) Programs Division, and to its digital service platform “My Water Bill: The Maynilad Bills Presentment Program” and three videos on El Niño, Wastewater Treatment, and Water Bill Explainer under the PR Tools Division.

Maynilad was also given Silver Awards for its company newsletter (“Ripples”), as well as its PR Programs pertaining to the World Water Day Awards, El Niño Information Campaign, and Wastewater Education Module for high school students.

“We are truly proud of our various communications initiatives, and this

All five satellite warehouses of Logistics - Inventory and Warehouse Management (IWM) attained zero variance during the 2016 Yearend

100% zero variance in 2016 physical inventory

Maynilad CFo Randolph Estrellado, IWM head Teresa artiaga, and Satellite Warehouse operations head Raymond Flores (5th, 4th and 6th from left, respectively) give recognition to the satellite depot heads for attaining zero variance.

Team Maynilad with representatives from partner agencies after the anvil awards “Gabi ng Parangal”.

recognition from industry experts is an affirmation of the success of our endeavors. Of this, we are very grateful,” said Maynilad President and CEO Ramoncito S. Fernandez.

The Anvil Awards, organized by the Public Relations Society of the

Philippines (PRSP), is the symbol of excellence in public relations in the Philippines. It awarded by a distinguished multi-sectoral jury to outstanding public relations programs and tools designed and implemented in the past year.

Physical Inventory conducted last November 17 to 18, 2016.

These satellite warehouses are the

Cordillera, Cavite, Muntinlupa-Las Piñas, Novaliches-Valenzuela, and Arroceros Satellite Depots.

Results of the yearend investory showed that the actual physical count of materials is 100% matched with SAP inventory records, indicating strict implementation of controls and highly efficient warehouse operations.

The Cordillera and Cavite Satellite Depots have consistently attained zero variance for the past six years (from 2011-2016), the Muntinlupa-Las Piñas Satellite Depot for the past five years (2012-2016), and Novaliches-Valenzuela and Arroceros Satellite Depots for the past three years (2014-2016).

All Logistics warehouses are IMS-certified.

NEWSNEWS


Binondo food crawl

Probably one of the most famous food destinations in the west Zone is the old town of Binondo. also known as the world’s oldest chinatown, Binondo is brimming with eateries steeped in rich history that serve authentic chinese dishes.

indeed, the best way to experience Binondo is through your stomach. ripples invited two media practitioners to eat their way through Binon-do and found eager volunteers in hard-core foodies PJ cana (Manag-ing editor of entrepreneur.com.ph) and Portia carbonell (supervising Producer for gMa news).

sHe said:Hidden inside an old building along Quintin Paredes, New Po Heng serves the best lumpia I have ever tasted. The Chinese-style fresh lumpia has carrots, tofu, lettuce, cilantro, cabbage, peanuts and seaweed rolled together inside a thin wrapper. You are getting your money’s worth here because for ₱50 per piece, this lumpia will leave you feeling stuffed. The sugar made it all the more delectable. Score: 4.5/5

He said:It felt like I’ve discovered a culinary jewel in New Po Heng. I’m getting restaurant quality product in a carinderia setting. Talk about getting value for your money! The place is clean when we went there and it feels homey, like you are in the backyard of a Chinese home. I will definite come back for that lumpia! Score: 5/5

sHe said:

Dong Bei dumplings are made fresh daily and rolled right in

front of your eyes. We ordered Kuchay Pork Dumpling and it

is to die for! The dip—made of vinegar, soy sauce, and garlic

sauce—made the dumpling all the more special. We enjoyed

watching the Dong Bei ladies make our dumplings. The place

can only accommodate less than 20 people, so be prepared to

wait in line. Score: 4/5

He said:

Dong Bei dumpling is not your usual mass-produced dumpling.

It tasted fresh because there are no extenders. For ₱150 (at

14 pieces), the accommodating employees of Dong Bei make

and cook the dumplings upon ordering. I noticed that a lot of

Chinese-Filipinos bought frozen packed dumplings because

these really tasted authentic. It’s no wonder that Dong Bei is a

favorite pit stop during Binondo food tours. Score: 4.5/5

New Po Heng Lumpia House531 Quintin Paredes Street

Dong Bei Dumplings

642 yuchengco Street

Telephone: +63 2 2418912

sHe said:I’ve been reading a lot of great reviews about Sincerity’s fried

chicken so I expected to taste the best in Binondo. But lo and

behold, I did not find it special from your usual fast food fried

chicken. You will get your money’s worth, though, because an

order of a whole chicken will just cost you ₱300, and it can

feed about four people. One of the must-try dishes in Sincerity,

according to the online articles I’ve read, is the Oyster Omelette

which costs ₱300 for a big plate. But I also found this dish a bit

disappointing as it tasted bland. Score: 3/5

He said:I’m a big fan of fried chicken, so my opinion of Sincerity Fried

Chicken is different from Portia’s. I liked it. You can really taste

the oriental spices, and you will savor the chicken’s juicy meat.

However, one thing I noticed was that some of the pieces I ate

had breading that was thicker than the chicken itself. Mean-

while, the Oyster Omelette really was a letdown. I was expect-

ing it to be comparable to Singapore’s oyster cake but it lacked

flavor and the texture was weird. Score: 3.4/5

Sincerity Café and Restaurant497 E. yuchengco Street

Telephone: +63 2 241 9991

sHe said:

After all that eating in the three prior establishments, dessert

at Café Mezzanine was the perfect ending. We ordered coffee,

chocolate shake, banana split and halo-halo. The desserts were

a bit pricey, but you will not regret spending your money here.

Café Mezzanine is also called “The Fireman’s Coffee Shop” since

revenues from this restaurant is donated to the Binondo Paco

Fire Search and Rescue Brigade. Score: 4/5

He said:Café Mezzanine is cozy and somewhat different from all the

other establishments on our Binondo food crawl list. The serv-

ers were very accommodating, even allowing me to charge my

phone. It also felt nice to enjoy a cup of coffee and eat a dessert

there, knowing that I am paying to help a cause. Score: 4/5

sHe said:Tao Yuan is probably my favorite on our Binondo Food Crawl itinerary, simply because the food was really sumptuous! From the Chinese Cold Cuts to the Shrimp with Broccoli to the Salted Egg Crabs, everything was a treat to my palate. Of course, you have to be ready to splurge because the dishes are really pricey. Score: 5/5

He said:I’ve eaten at Tao Yuan before so I knew what to expect. Besides the excellent service, everything we had there was top quality. The Salted Egg Crabs was a definite highlight. The restaurant is also in the heart of Lucky Chinatown Mall so it’s very convenient for Divisoria shoppers. Score: 5/5

Cafe Mezzanine

650 ongpin corner Nueva Street

Tao Yuan RestaurantSecond Floor, lucky Chinatown Mall

Head for the West

The West zone is a treasure trove of great food, quality products and interesting services. To help promote these otherwise unknown finds, our resident writers will share their experiences so that you, too, can discover the remarkable things about our concession area.

COLuMN

By PJ Cana and Portia Carbonell


The technical knowhow of Maynilad engineers in the field of NRW management has enabled the company to provide NRW services for water providers here and abroad.

a Maynilad engineer conducting NRW assessment in Parañaque

MayNIlaD’S NRW SERvICES oN a Roll

Unlike in most industrialized countries, reducing Non-Revenue Water (NRW) is a huge problem for developing countries such as ours. Water service providers in these parts of the world are still striving to provide their customers with clean and reliable water supply.

The common drivers for the challenges that these utilities face are inadequate pipe network, poor records systems, and low level of technical skills and technology. If allowed to persist, the resulting poor water service compromises overall quality of life in terms of health, economy and the environment.

Prior to 2007, the West zone of Metro Manila had a similar problem, with the old Maynilad unable to improve service levels because it lacked the funds needed to address the problem of water loss.

Following the entry of new Maynilad owners, an aggressive NRW Reduction and Management Program was launched in 2008, which involved pipe and meter replacements, leak detection and repair, District Metered Area (DMA) management, and network diagnostics, among other interventions. The company acquired state-of-the-art leak detection

technologies and sent its engineers for a series of trainings abroad.

The program effectively reduced the company’s water losses from 66% in 2006 to only 30% by end of 2016. This reduction translates to a water recovery of 923 million liters per day, which can fill up roughly 370 Olym-pic-size pools every day, and supply about 1.5 million households with potable water.

This recovered water served as additional supply source that enabled Maynilad to improve service levels for existing customers and bring water to expansion areas.

Our record feat earned Maynilad some prestigious international honors, including those from the International Water Association’s Project Innovation Awards (2014 and 2013) and the Dubai International Award for Best Practices in 2012.

With Maynilad’s home-grown expertise in NRW management established, it now actively offers its services here and abroad to water service providers seeking to improve their own operations.

Among its suite of services are rapid NRW assessments, comprehensive NRW reduction and management feasibility studies, NRW advisory

services, DMA establishment and management, Leak detection services, pipe inspections, leak repair on big pipes, hydraulic modelling, design and engineering services, meter management services, and meter testing.

To date, “Maynilad NRW Services” has rendered a total of 47 Rapid NRW Assessments for schools, subdivisions and condominiums. It has also conducted a feasibility study for Subic and Meycauayan Water District; capacity building for San Pedro, Bacolod and Subic Water District; NRW Reduction Strategy for Cagayan De Oro Water District; rehabilitation services for the Malacañang grounds and Manila North Harbor; seven leak detection services; and twinning programs for San Pedro, Metro Leyte, Bacolod and Metro Iloilo water districts.

Outside of the country, “Maynilad NRW Services” has rendered a feasibility study and NRW assessment for Vietnam and Indone-sia, twinning program for Nepal and Bangladesh, pipe inspection and leak detection for India and UAE, and capacity building for Malaysia and Senegal.

Maynilad looks forward to extending its services to even more areas in the coming years, in line with its Vision to become the leading water solutions company in the Philippines with a strong presence across Asia.

Dear Doc Ric,

I’m glad that Maynilad has built a Fitness Center for us employees. Could you give us tips on proper warm-up routines before we start using the exercise equipment?

—Lisa

Dear Lisa,

Maynilad strives to promote health and wellness among its employees. Part of this effort is to provide a facility that will encourage employees to get up from their desks and engage in physical activity.

Our new Fitness Center includes a gym with various cardiovascular machines, and a playing area for indoor sports. Before diving into your new workout regimen, it is important to prepare your body with proper warm ups, cool downs, and stretching.

• Five to 10 minutes of light (low intensity) physical activity following the movement patterns of our chosen exercise is the proper way to rev up before an intense workup routine. The more intense the activity, the longer the warm up. You may produce mild sweating, but the movements should not leave you fatigued.

• Pump your arms or make large but controlled circular movements with your arms to help warm up the muscles of your upper body.

• Do whatever activity you plan on doing at a slower pace (e.g. jog first before running).

• Move your entire body. For many people, walking on a treadmill and doing some modified bent-knee push-ups will suffice.

BENEFITS:

• Dilates blood vessels, ensuring that the muscles are properly supplied with oxygen, thereby reducing muscle soreness, stiffness, and the risk of injury during an exercise or sporting activity.

• Raises muscle temperature for optimal flexibility and efficiency, translating to improved athletic performance.

• Slowly raises heart rate and body temperature to reduce stress on the heart and muscles.

You have several options for cooling down after intense exercise:

• Continue the chosen exercise while gradually lowering its intensity and pace.

• Walk for about five minutes, or until your heart rate goes below 120 beats per minute.

• Do slow jogging, brisk walking or gentle cycling.

BENEFITS:

• Allows gradual recovery of pre-exercise heart rate, blood pressure and breathing.

• Helps regulate blood flow, especially for those who engaged in a more competitive endurance sporting event.

• Prevents fainting or dizziness, which can result from blood pooling in the large muscles of the legs when vigorous activity is stopped suddenly.

•Helps remove metabolites (lactic acid).

•Prepares your muscles for the next exercise session.

Finish your warm up and cool down sessions with stretch-ing. This can improve range of motion, as well as decrease muscle pain and stiffness.

• Hold each stretch for 10 to 30 seconds. If you feel you need more, stretch the other side and return for another set of stretching. Do two to three sets.

• The stretch should be strong (but not painful), involving all major muscle groups.

• Do not bounce.

• Breathe while stretching. Exhale as you stretch, and inhale while holding the stretch.

• Include some slow, controlled circling movements at key joints, such as shoulder rolls. But the stretches should not be forced or done at a speed that may stretch the joint, muscles and tendons beyond their normal length.

• Do “static stretching” where a muscle is gently stretched and held in the stretched position for 10 to 30 seconds. This is generally considered the safest method of stretching.

• Other methods of stretching include ballistic, dynamic and PNF (proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation) stretching, each of which is best done under instruction from a qualified fitness instructor or sports coach.

FItness Musts

WarM uP

cOOL DOWn

stretcHIng

COLuMN NRW WatchReduction of water loss is an ongoing battle for the company. Get blow-by-blow accounts of the developments straight from Maynilad’s CNRW engineers.

COLuMN Doc Ric Says

Got some health and wellness concerns? our resident medical expert, Doc Ric, will help you address these concerns to keep you in excellent shape.

By Wiljeim laureola

By Ricardo Jose Miranda, M.D.


REGuLARS Stars of Maynilad

REGuLARS Your Page

We continue featuring in “Stars of Maynilad” employees who exemplify each of Maynilad’s six core values. The article below focuses on “love for Country”.

This section is for the aspiring writers, poets, photographers and artists of Maynilad who want to share their publication-worthy contributions with Ripples readers.

Among the many ways Maynilad reinforces its corporate value “Love for Country” is in its environmental conservation efforts. It is this aspect of the company’s operations that engages Jemar Sing the most.

“It is very rewarding that the company I work for gives me lots of opportunity to live out my passion for protecting the environment,” notes the 29-year-old nature enthusiast from Program Manage-ment Division.

ONE WITH MAYNILADSing, who has been with Maynilad for four years now, is a consistent volunteer in the company’s tree-planting activities under the “Plant for Life” program, as well as its annual coastal clean-up drives. He is also a regular blood donor at the Philippine Children’s Medical Center.“I started participating in ‘Plant for Life’ back in 2013, and I admire May-nilad for having this kind of activity

because it paved way for employees like me to contribute and be part of something worthwhile,” Sing shares.

Even prior to joining Maynilad, Sing has always been an outdoors person. He loves to go biking and climbing mountains in his spare time, as these serve as his escape from stress and city pollution. According to Sing, he is always at his best after spending quality time with nature.

“Nature immersion enhances our mental and physical well-being,” he avers. “Being one with nature has been shown to improve mental health, vision, concentration, crea-tivity and even boosts our immune system.”

At work, Sing seeks to exemplify his “Love for Country” by giving high-quality service that truly satisfies the needs of his customers. He explains, “Delivering efficient solutions and quality service, and complying with

strict standards means that Maynilad can continue to serve its customers well and contribute to building the nation.”

With Maynilad as partner, Sing looks forward to extending his positive in-fluence through more volunteer work and knowledge exchange.

NATURE FOR THE FUTURESing hopes to inspire the youth of today to do their part in protecting the environment. “While they are still young, they should lend their time and effort toward activities that are not only enjoyable but that benefit Mother Nature,” he notes.

He says there is a need to take more urgent action so that the beauty of nature that people enjoy today can also be experienced by future gen-erations. “Planting one tree may be a small act, but it feels good to know that I am doing my part—however small—to make our country a won-derful place to live in.”

We are a group of 18 individuals with varied personalities, ideas and char-acter types, but what makes us truly special is our initiative and the hard work we put in to make our company grow and prosper.

This year, we will mark our fifth year under Maynilad’s management. Looking ahead, I think that under the guidance and assistance of Maynilad, PhilHydro will grow even more as a company, meet more potential customers and expand its services not only in Bulacan but to other municipalities and prov-inces as well.

I am also excited that the management is planning to add more training and seminars for us in the coming years. This will help develop our skills and fur-ther enhance our knowledge on water treatment processes. We also look for-ward to learning about innovations and technologies that could help make our operations more reliable and efficient.

introducing PhilHydro BulacanBy Engr. Richard Callueng

Jemar sing:Working for nature through MayniladBy Jecelyn Macahindog-leobrera

“The best preparation for tomorrow is doing

your best today.” – H. Jackson Brown, Jr.

Sing (center) loves participating in the company’s tree-planting activities.

an avid biker, Sing finds strength in nature and hopes to instill environ-mental awareness among the youth.


REGuLARS Men and Women of Maynilad

Maynilad Water acadeMy

MWa executive director Rodora Gamboa with her team members (from left) Edmundo Perez II, Royellynne Jessa Kris Colobong and oliver Sta. ana.

Gamboa facilitates a Business Planning session for PaWD members in Cebu.

DepEd undersecretary Jesus lorenzo Mateo and Gamboa discuss water education modules to be adopted for the y2K Program.

Maynilad’s vision is to become the leading water solutions company with a strong presence across Asia. Toward this end, the company established last 2011 its education arm—the Maynilad Water Academy (MWA)—so it can further hone the skills of Maynilad’s internal experts and, ultimately, share knowledge and best practices for the con-tinued improvement of the water industry.

Headed by its executive direc-tor, Rodora gamboa, MWA is comprised of two units: Technical Advocacy, which manages external trainings, capacity development, conventions and seminars; and Academic Services, which works on curriculum development, accredita-tion and certification.

slow startThe establishment of MWA is in response to the need for continued water education for industry professionals.

At the outset, gamboa says that enrollees to training programs came in trickles. Thankfully, the successful outcomes of MWA trainings began gaining interest. Now, five years since its inception, MWA is perceived as a true partner in people development, as well as a go-to resource for people who want to learn more about water and sanitation. It consistently receives requests for twinning partnerships, trainings, and benchmarking activi-ties here and abroad.

“We see to it that our efforts can make an impact in the water sector and in our business,” gamboa af-firms, noting that their continuing challenge is to keep expanding on relevant educational modules.

Leading the MWA gives gamboa a great sense of fulfillment. “I am delighted to see our partners and

clients who articulate their satisfac-tion over our training programs and interventions, most especially for the positive outcomes of their training as applied to their operations.”

directing tHe acadeMy“I am a passionate public servant working in the private sector, and leading the MWA is my commitment to nation building,” says gamboa, who was previously general manager of the Davao City Water District before joining Maynilad.

Leading the MWA also gives gamboa a great sense of fulfillment. “I am delighted to see our partners and clients who articulate their satisfaction over our training programs and interven-tions, most especially for the positive outcomes of their training as applied to their operations.”

gamboa credits the company’s Top Management Team and experts from the different divisions for MWA’s achievements in the past five years.

new directionThe MWA is now part of the Com-mercial and Marketing Division. This, according to gamboa, aligns

MWA’s educational endeavors with the advocacy, marketing and business development initiatives of the company.

“While we generously share our knowledge and expertise to clients, we also help in growing the business by diversifying our training portfolio and continuously maintaining good relationships with current and potential business partners,” gamboa notes.

“As we work on becoming the thought leader in water and sanitation, we commit to continuously reach out to those who need our expertise and contribute to growing the business of Maynilad,” she adds.

By Jecelyn Macahindog-leobrera

24 RIPPLES I THE OFFICIAL COMPANY NEWSLETTER OF MAYNILAD WATER SERVICES, INC.JANUARY - MARCH 2017

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RIPPLES - Maynilad Water Services · 2019-12-05 · january - march 2017 ripples i the official company newsletter of maynilad water services, inc. ripples i the official company