RIPPLES - Maynilad Water Services … · JOSE RIZAL BATILES: ALWAYS UP FOR THE CHALLENGE CXRO-HR CONFERENCE: CREATING A LEGACY OF LEADERS Maynilad assures its customers that with

Creating a legacy of leaders

Jose Rizal Batiles: Always up for the challenge

Maynilad divers taking the plunge

Second water treatment plant in Muntinlupa inaugurated

ALL FOR RELIABILITY

VOLUME 10 | ISSUE 2 | APRIL-JUNE 2019

R I P P L E ST 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 .

I was in high school when I first experienced a major earthquake. We were having a quiz at school, and I was busily scribbling my answers to a geometry test when my table started shaking. My classmates began to scream. Back then, we didn’t know about the duck-cover-hold move, so we just clung to our seats and prayed.

We were lucky because nothing untoward happened to anyone in school. But that earthquake claimed many lives and destroyed properties in other parts of the country.

Besides earthquakes, Filipinos also experience our fair share of typhoons. Who can forget Typhoon Yolanda? Maynilad operations were severely affected when it struck in 2013, and we have since made major investments to upgrade our facilities for enhanced resilience to floods.

A disaster can strike without warning, and being prepared can save us.

In this issue of Ripples, we talk about how we in Maynilad—through an institutionalized action plan—prepare ourselves and our facilities for catastrophes the likes of Typhoon Yolanda and “the Big One”.

Through these initiatives, we re-affirm our commitment to ensure sustained service to our customers even in the face of disasters—all in keeping with our “higit sa tubig ang aming serbisyo” battle cry.

Cheers,

PREPARED FOR THE WORST

Ripples is the official publication of Maynilad Water Services, Inc. for Maynilad employees and friends. Ripples welcoames 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 R. CASIPIT-RUFOEditor in Chief

ZYRILLE M. CARTELLALAINE DIXIE L. TIANGCOManaging Editors

MADELEINE R. ZAIDEREGINALD M. INDONAssociate Editors

JECELYN M. LEOBRERAWriter

GRACE A. LAXACirculation Manager

RYAN B. JAMORA SHERWIN DC. MENDOZAANN MARGARETT L. MARIGONDON-CARANTOTERESITA C. MONTANOMIRLA M. DE LEONELIZABETH S. DAVIDLOLIT M. LOTANOLAN C. CLEMENTECorrespondents

MIKHAIL D. SANCHEZKRISTIAN ROSS S. AQUINOIllustrators

R I P P L E S

2 RIPPLESVOLUME 10 | ISSUE 2 | APRIL-JUNE 2019

EDITOR’S NOTE

ALL FOR RELIABILITY

JOSE RIZAL BATILES: ALWAYS UP FOR THE CHALLENGE

CXRO-HR CONFERENCE: CREATING A LEGACY OF LEADERS

Maynilad assures its customers that with a comprehensive Business Continuity Management System, and the strong commitment of its people, water services can be restored and carried out after a disaster.

Inspired by the love of his family, his passion for work and his new “second family” in Maynilad, JRB shares his story of persistence and bravery.

Aligned with the company’s NextGen goals of furthering organizational capability among its people, this year’s CXRO-HR conference highlights the importance of good and authentic leadership and how it can inspire a culture of success.

12 Second water treatment plant in Muntinlupa

inaugurated | Earthquake and fire safety

seminar held 13 Community programs receive

int’l recognition | PayMaya now accepts

Maynilad bill payments 14 MOU with QC to ease

WSC applications | ASRA recognizes Maynilad’s

2017 Sustainability Report 15 RSF celebrates

birthday with “water for the poor” project launch

| Project STREAM to improve maintenance mgmt.

16 RSF speaks on seismic risk management |

Potable water for earthquake victims 17 500

runners join third Maynilad Media Run

COVER STORY NEWS

REGULARS

FEATURES

MAYNILAD DIVERS TAKING THE PLUNGE

STARS OF MAYNILAD

TUBEE & CO.YOUR PAGE

MEN AND WOMEN OF MAYNILAD

DOC RIC SAYS

NRW WATCH

They go through great lengths to ensure that Maynilad operations run smoothly so that customers will continue to have potable water supply.

Joy Arce: The joy of leading

We only have one Earth

Seismic Risk Management Strategy Team

Dispelling “Big C” myths

E-Favor as alternative to Step Testing

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COLUMNSHEAD FOR THE WESTAround the town for “insta-worthy” cafés

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3RIPPLES VOLUME 10 | ISSUE 2 | APRIL-JUNE 2019

WHAT’S INSIDE

Producing and distributing 2,700 million liters of potable water every day for some 9.6 million customers may seem pretty straightforward, but it is not an easy feat given the complexity of the network that has to be operated to bring that supply to every household and establishment from North Caloocan to Cavite.

When this many people rely on us to provide a life-sustaining resource, then our service has to be consistent, no matter the situation.

A vital element of Maynilad BCMS is our people, who are tasked to ensure that services are sustained despite disaster events.

ALL FOR RELIABILITY

By: Zyrille Maningo-Cartel


COVER STORY

Nature, however, will always find ways to test our resilience and reliability. Geographically, the Philippines is one of the countries lying along the Pacific Ring of Fire—a 25,000-mile seismically active area that is responsible for 90% of the world’s earthquakes. Furthermore, we are also located at the so-called Typhoon Belt, which makes us most vulnerable to typhoons throughout the year.

We have always been exposed to natural calamities. But given the critical role of the water sector, ensuring continuity of water services even during disasters is important. Maynilad has always been mindful of this, and has been actively taking strides to address the eventualities that may arise from these natural phenomena.

SERVICE IN TIMES OF CRISIS

In December 2018, Maynilad was able to secure an ISO 22301:2012 certification for its Business Continuity Management System, making it the first water company in the Philippines to be given the said recognition.

Maynilad’s BCMS is a comprehensive system that aims to identify potential threats, mitigate impacts to operational processes, build organizational resilience, enable timely response, and safeguard the interest of stakeholders. It aligns the company’s risk management programs, such as our SRMS (Seismic Risk Management Strategy), Water Safety Plan, and Emergency Response Preparedness program, among others.

According to Atty. Roel S. Espiritu, Maynilad’s Head of Corporate Quality, Environment, Safety and Health, the BCMS allows the company to establish Business Continuity Plans (BCPs) involving the critical processes related to the provision of potable water. These plans are designed to alleviate the effect of calamities by examining all possible risks and its necessary countermeasures, and identifying vital personnel, as well as the corresponding logistical requirements to resume normal service at the earliest possible time. To help guarantee effectiveness, these plans are tested on a regular basis.

SECURING THE BASES

While nobody can predict when an earthquake is going to hit, we have been preparing for the “Big One”, which is a 7.2-magnitude earthquake that may happen in this lifetime. When it strikes, it is expected to result in the collapse of 170,000 residential buildings and the death of 34,000 people, according to the Metro Manila Earthquake Impact Reduction Study.

Everything and everyone will be vulnerable. Power and communication lines, as well as water distribution pipes, will be susceptible to damage, putting our services to an inevitable stoppage.

Part of Maynilad’s business continuity masterplan is to ensure that our facilities and structures would be able to withstand this kind of risk. Since re-privatization in 2007, we have built new facilities that comply with the current standards of seismic safety. Through the Rapid Earthquake Damage Assessment Sys-tem (REDAS), we have also identified our facilities that are most susceptible to flood, ground rupture and shaking, liquefaction, and tsunami.

Our older and critical facilities—such as the La Mesa Treatment Plants that produce 95% of our potable water output—have been undergoing retrofitting to ensure structural integrity, operational reliability and maintenance.

Also important is to guarantee the provision of safe, emergency drinking water within 72 hours after a disaster, as mandated by the Philippine National Standards for Drinking Water. For this, Maynilad has created an emergency reaction team composed of chemists, microbiologists, water quality inspectors, and support personnel to monitor emergency water potability parameters until operations are back to normal.

SECURING OUR PEOPLE

In the course of a natural disaster, everyone’s safety is at stake, including those of our employees who will have to carry out the role of immediate responders. In a recent speech on Seismic Risk Management, Maynilad President Ramoncito S. Fernandez said that plans are only good when you have people who will report for work despite threats to their own safety.

“In Maynilad, we have many devoted individuals who understand their crucial role, and who are willing to serve people within and outside the West Zone, sometimes even putting their own lives at risk,” RSF noted.

One instrumental element of our BCMS is our people—the entire Maynilad workforce, especially those in field operations who will play a vital role in ensuring that our services are sustained. Hence, we need to make sure that all our employees are safe and will be able to continue work despite disasters.

For this, Maynilad has Emergency Preparedness and Response (EPR) programs per workplace. Each of our offices has its own EPR team trained with EPR knowledge, and equipped with the necessary resources. Specific EPR trainings on Incident Command System, Earthquake Landslide Search and Rescue Orientation Course, Water Search and Rescue, First Aid and Basic Life Support, Fire Brigade, and Fire and Earthquake Drills have been conducted.

A 72-hour Emergency Survival Kit is provided for personnel in critical facilities like treatment plants, pumping stations and reservoirs, and the Safety Center and Security. The Central Laboratory also has an established communication monitoring protocol among its personnel.

In Maynilad, we have many devoted individuals who understand their

crucial role, and who are willing to serve people within and outside the West Zone, sometimes even putting

their own lives at risk.

TO STAY SAFE AND TO SERVE

Ultimately, Maynilad’s BCMS assures the public that in the event of any disaster, we have an institutionalized action plan, and we are logistically prepared to mitigate the impact of a calamity on our operations.

Our stakeholders can trust that we in Maynilad are committed to do our best to protect lives, minimize service interruption, and rapidly restore services to our customers by ensuring our own safety and carrying out our business continuity procedures in response to a calamity.


By: Zyrille Maningo-Cartel

Over time, the world has borne witness to the best and worst leaders who have walked the face of the earth. But what does it really take to be a good leader, and what characterizes good leadership?

Military strategist and philosopher Sun Tzu in his book, The Art of War, described leadership as a combination of five traits: Intelligence, Credibility, Humanness, Courage, and Discipline. He says that leadership plays an important part in any organization and that while everyone in a group is responsible for its fate, it is the leader’s purpose to guide and inspire his people to achieve a goal.

With the theme “Building leaders, creating legacies”, this year’s CXRO-HR Conference revolved around the idea of how good and authentic leadership can inspire a culture of success in an organization. It also highlighted the importance of guiding future leaders to the right way.

This is aligned with Maynilad’s NextGen goals of furthering organizational capability by opening growth opportunities for its people and allowing them to continuously develop skills to become technical experts and effective people managers.

“As today’s leaders, it is our legacy to ensure that we create and mold the next generation of Maynilad leaders,” said Maynilad President and CEO Ramoncito S. Fernandez. “With good management, down-to-earth business sense, good customer engagement, and good leadership, we’ve been able to successfully meet many of our goals. But we must not rest on our laurels, and we should continue to be vigilant as more challenges are expected to come. For them to face the challenges of the future, they must carry out our brand of authentic leadership,” he added.

The conference featured three distinguished speakers, namely Maynilad division heads Martin de Guzman of HR and Christopher Lichauco of CXRO, and Accenture Philippines Country HR Managing Director Ira Reyes.

With decades of experience in multinational companies, De Guzman has witnessed several leadership styles, and he has seen the kind of leaders who were best remembered. “Knowing your purpose as a leader is important in defining the kind of leadership you want to enable,” he said, identifying four key components of leadership legacy: Significance, Relationship, Aspirations and Courage.

Reyes, for her part, elaborated on the challenges in a volatile, competitive and complex industry. She stressed that people-centered management can work for both the employees’ and the company’s advantage.

Celebrating two decades with the company, Lichauco recounted his Maynilad story and shared the lessons he learned through the years. He spoke of the challenges and triumphs that came with his journey in the company, ultimately enabling him to find joy and fulfillment in the work he does and in the people who work with him.

Lichauco also emphasized that the present leaders of the organization should properly mold those who will lead the future of Maynilad.

Aside from being an occasion for learning, the conference was a venue to recognize the good works of some CXRO and HR employees. It was a gathering of friends and colleagues, who have seen Maynilad from the inside and who have been instrumental in what the company has become over the years.

Creating aLEGACY OF LEADERS

SCal BA team led by Zmel Grabillo wins the Best BA Award at the CXRO-HR Conference.


FEATURES

BEST BUSINESS AREA

First Place - South Caloocan Business AreaSecond Place - Muntinlupa-Las Piñas Business AreaThird Place - Fairview-Commonwealth Business Area

BEST CXRO RANK AND FILE

Winner - Anthony M. Dela Rosa (Zone Specialist, Tondo Business Area)

Finalist - Antonio S. Ramos (BA Engineer, Technical Management, Fairview-Commonwealth Business Area)

Finalist - Jonathan G. Orilla (Zone Specialist, Parañaque Business Area)

BEST CXRO OFFICER

Winner - John Cris T. Joson (BA Officer, Operations and Maintenance, Cavite Business Area)

Finalist - Paulo D. Virgo (BA Officer, NRW Management, Fairview-Commonwealth Business Area)

Finalist - Rommel Joseph A. Villanueva (BA Officer, NRW Management, Tondo Business Area)

BEST CXRO MANAGER

Winner - Ryan A. Capitulo (Head, Zone Management, Quirino-Roosevelt Business Area)

Finalist - Jim G. Agustin (Head, Commercial Management, Sampaloc Business Area)

Finalist - Arnold O. Dela Rosa (Head, Zone Management, Cavite Business Area)

OUTSTANDING HR PROFESSIONAL

Winner - Feliza May C. Garin (HR Officer, Leadership and Technical Competency Development, Organization Development and Learning)

Finalist - Curita S. Manuel (HR Officer, HR Systems and Processes, HR Operations)

Finalist - Kristian M. Roy (Company Nurse, Health Management)

OUTSTANDING PEOPLE MANAGER

Winner - Joy Marie C. Arce (Head, Support Services - Central NRW Management, Planning and Support)

Nominee - Estrellita Y. Gravidez (Head, Procurement of Infrastructure - Supply Chain Management, Procurement of Infrastructure)

Nominee - Robinson A. Salenga II (Senior Project Manager - Program Management, Project Management)

Nominee - Ruel P. Carreos (Head, Treatment Plant Maintenance - Water Supply Operations, Water Production)

OUTSTANDING INTERNAL TRAINER

Winner - Most Number of Training Hours Rendered Gracelyn F. Dinglasan (BA Specialist, Operations Planning, Business Operations Central Services)

Winner - Most Number of Employees Trained Mona Liza M. Cruz (Head, Customer Process Management, Customer Experience)

Winner - Highest Trainer Evaluation Rating Roldan Q. Pineda (Head, Commercial Management, Tondo Business Area)

CXRO AWARDS

HRAWARDS

CXRO-HR CONFERENCE 2019 EMPLOYEE AWARDS

RSF and RTE with Accenture Philippines’ Country HR Managing Director Ira Reyes (center), one of the speakers of this year’s CXRO-HR Conference.


1. What encouraged you to join Maynilad?

In my previous company, we had what we call the first and second moments of truth. In my case, the first moment of truth that led me to decide to join Maynilad was when I first met RSF and RTE. It made me realize that they are the kind of leaders I would be honored to work with, and Maynilad could be the company that I would love to work for. When you see leaders who are sincere, you know that you are in the right place.

My first few days in Maynilad were eventful in a very positive way. That was the second moment of truth for me. Apart from the homey environment, I realized that the core values of the company are something that I personally live by as well.

I hit the ground running right after I joined the company. As a new division, my team and I had to start by setting a vision and mission, as well as a five-year roadmap. It didn’t feel tiring at all because Maynilad people are fun to work with. The people here have a different kind of warmth that makes working very light; it almost feels like we’re just a big family.

2. What is your management style?

I am very collaborative, and I respect individual competencies. For me, it’s important that my people know that I trust them and their capabilities. I give them the freedom to do things using their own

An unrelenting auditor with a keen eye for processes and managing business risks, ERMIA head Jay-R Batiles brings with

him massive skill sets that are essential for Maynilad’s sustained growth. The job may not be easy, but love for his work—as

well as for the company that he now calls his “second family”—makes the struggles all worth it.

Jose Rizal Batiles

Interview by Zyrille Maningo-Cartel


Get up close and personal with Maynilad executives as they open up about their work habits and personal lives, and see what truly inspires them to keep striving for excellence.

FEATURESExecutive Close-Up

approach, as a way of encouraging creativity and productivity. As long as we are aligned on specific deliverables, timelines and quality standards, and they are committed to their responsibilities—targets can be achieved.

I also understand that sometimes there’s a need for hand-holding, and I am more than happy to provide direction and guidance. But ultimately, I want to make sure that they use the style that’s effective for them, depending on their individual competencies.

3. Tell us briefly about ERMIA, and the challenges of running this new division.

ERMIA has two functions: enterprise risk management and internal audit. Our division is responsible for the identification and mitigation of big risks, giving assurance to the Top Management that internal controls in the company exist and are operating as intended. Given this, there are two major challenges: First is to ensure that we don’t miss out on identifying and mitigating the big risks; second is to ensure that the control issues are identified and raised to Management for mitigation. Both of these entail critical thinking and collaboration with the different divisions.

4. How would you describe yourself?

I would say that I’m a fighter. At a young age, our family had to fight poverty. Our parents believe that the way to beat the odds is through education. Thankfully—in ways that I don’t even know how—all seven of us were able to finish school and we all became professionals. Life has taught me to fight every battle with integrity, dignity and honesty, and that it doesn’t really matter whether you win or lose, for as long as you know that you’ve given a fair and good fight.

As a worker, I follow rules. I make sure to respect the people I work with, and I commit myself to what I do and to the company that I work for.

5. Describe an ideal workplace for you.

It is one where values are similar with what I believe in. Sharing the same vision, and living with the same principles as the organization is important in delivering the best for the company. Being a part of the Maynilad family is something that I am grateful for because I know that I’m in my ideal workplace.

6. What are your medium and long-term goals for the company in relation with your division?

When we started as a division, we set a five-year roadmap which articulates our medium-term goals. It sets the tone for the ideal state for our division. A major component of it is building competencies among ERMIAns. In the long run, we aim to confidently report that our audits are done according to interna-tional standards of professional practice.

7. Tell us about your family.

We have a happy and close-knit family. My wife Pinky and I have two kids—our daughter Marian, who is 24, and son Jobi who is 22. We’re proud to say that we’ve raised two responsible and intelligent children. We made sure to give them a happy childhood, enjoying traditions like Santa Claus and the Tooth Fairy, and celebrating important occasions especially birthdays. We also enjoy eating and traveling together.

Not known to many is that back in 2017, our family was struck with probably the biggest battle that we had to fight against. My wife was

diagnosed to have multiple myeloma, or in layman’s term, bone marrow cancer. It was a very tough journey for all of us. She had to undergo a lot of procedures, including stem cell harvest, chemo therapy, and bone marrow transplant. We spent the past two years going back and forth to the hospital. There were weeks when she had to be isolated even at home, as she recovered from one procedure after another. We never lost our faith as a family. Now we believe that we are victorious as she’s already declared cancer-free.

8. What do you do to unwind?

I used to read a lot, and my favorite author is John Grisham. However, given my busy schedule, unwinding now means drinking tea or red wine at home while playing with our pet cats and dogs or taking care of my plants. On Saturdays, I do Homeowners Association-related tasks. My Sundays are devoted to my family.

With my wife’s condition, I do the market chores during weekends, as well as the cooking—which I love to do for my family.

9. Do you have any special skills/talents that people don’t know about?

You can’t make me sing. I can dance but I am not that good. I guess I am good in cooking. I can whip up three to four dishes for a single meal. My specialty is Ilonggo dishes. I can also cook a bit of Japanese, Korean, and Italian dishes.

If I were not a corporate executive now, I would probably be a chef, a bartender or a barista. I’ve always enjoyed cooking, concocting drinks and making coffee. My kids say that I’m good at it. In fact, they’ve been teasing me to open a restaurant.

10. What would be that one lesson you’d like to share with your new Maynilad family?

Love your work because if you don’t, you will need three times the energy—that is, to force yourself to work, resist the force and finally, to work. But when you love what you do, it is not work anymore but fun.


MAYNILAD DIVERS TAKINGTHE PLUNGEBy Zyrille Maningo-Cartel

When you think about “scuba diving,” you think about exploring deep blue seas, communing with colorful sea creatures, and basking in the beautiful sight of coral reefs. This would be the case if you do recreational diving.

For Maynilad’s resident divers, however, it is a job—one that’s crucial for sustaining company operations. They dive into dams, treatment plant basins, and reservoirs to check and repair underwater facilities and ensure that processes are not interrupted.

Larry de Castro has been with the company’s Water Production treatment plant maintenance team for years when he volunteered and got trained to be a licensed diver. “I didn’t have any professional background in diving before. Pero laki ako sa dagat at isa ako sa mga bata dati na sumisisid sa pier. Sumali ako sa training kasi maganda rin na may added skill ako na magagamit sa trabaho,” he says.

Maynilad has about 25 in-house divers and for them says De Castro, there is a certain kind of fulfillment in knowing that they are able to give more for the company through diving. “Kung masaya ka kasi sa trabaho mo at lalo na kung ito ang bread and butter mo, ibibigay mo lahat ng maaari mong ibigay. Hindi madali na lumusong, lalo na kung malabo ang tubig; at mas lalong hindi madali magkumpuni ng mga sira habang nasa ilalim. Pero masaya kaming ginagampanan ang trabaho namin kasi alam naming higit sa tungkulin, nakakatu-long kami sa kapwa,” he said.

Having in-house divers to do maintenance work in filter units and basins is not only cost-effective for the company; it also addresses the urgent need for troubleshooting. Most diving works include the retrieval, surveying and installation of materials like the recent re-installation of the rapid mixer at the La Mesa Treatment Plant 1 that was pulled-out for repairs over the holy week.

“May mga pagkakataon kasi na may nasisirang makina sa ilalim. Halimbawa na lang ‘yung dalawang paddle ng rapid mixer sa La Mesa nu’ng holy week. Kinailangan namin kunin sa ilalim ‘yung mga nabaling paddles na ‘yun para ayusin. Ginagamit kasi ang rapid mixer para ihalo ang water treatment solution natin sa raw water,” says De Castro.

The job entails 24/7 preparedness for any possible emergency maintenance work. Overall, the role is critical in ensuring that the water supply operations processes are fulfilled. As water from the Ipo dam comes in through the portals, it goes through the stringent treatment procedure that involves tools installed with mechanical parts such as valves, motors, sluice gates and gears among others. The divers’ role is needed whenever these underwater materials malfunction, and require maintenance or replacement to mitigate the possible disruption of Maynilad’s water supply.

According to Maynilad Safety head Conrado Soriano, it was in year 2000 when the company saw the need for internal divers who can immediately resolve, if not avoid, problems in plant operations.

Maynilad divers are from the company’s technical units or Operations along with the Safety Department who assesses the risks and ensures the safety of the divers.

“Buwis-buhay ang trabahong ‘to. It takes a lot of bravery, dedication and discipline to do the job. Fixing things on the surface can already be difficult, but fixing something in the deep is thrice the challenge. With that, I would say that the role of Maynilad divers is extraordinary,” says Soriano.

Aside from attending to plant maintenance work, Maynilad divers are also involved in the various environmental and safety initiatives of the company, including Metro Pacific Investments Corp.’s “Shore It Up” campaign.

No matter how challenging or even risky the job is, Maynilad divers go through lengths to make sure to provide clean and safe water for the people they serve. Clearly, Maynilad divers live by the company’s core of “higit sa tubig na serbisyo” as they perform their responsibilities with pure heart and dedication.

Maynilad diver in a diving activity to retrieve a detached rapid mixer propeller at the South Radial Gate of La Mesa Treatment Plant 1.


FEATURES


FEATURES

Second water treatment plant in Muntinlupa inaugurated

Maynilad recently inaugurated its second water treatment plant in Barangay Putatan, Muntinlupa City. The Putatan Water Treatment Plant 2 (PWTP 2), which sources raw water from Laguna Lake, is part of Maynilad’s water security program that aims to minimize dependence on the Angat Dam.

Maynilad Chairman Manuel V. Pangilinan said the PWTP 2 is proof of Maynilad’s commitment to continue meeting its service obligations as specified in the concession agreement. Besides the PWTP 1 and 2, Pangilinan said that Maynilad plans to build more facilities in the area to tap raw water from Laguna Lake.

Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System Administrator Reynaldo V. Velasco thanked Maynilad for its support especially in the recent water crisis. “We are grateful for the support we always get from Maynilad and we will continue to count on it,” Velasco said in his speech.

For his part, Muntinlupa Mayor Jaime Fresnedi noted the huge positive impact that PWTP 2 will bring. “With the opening of Putatan 2, I am hopeful that the challenges for water provision will be a thing of the past. We trust that Maynilad will continue to provide quality potable water to cities like ours within its concession area.” Muntinlupa Rep. Rufino Biazon commended Maynilad employees for always being responsive. “They’ve always been proactive in addressing the concerns of our constituents here. I hope the quality of service would be sustained henceforth. We are expecting from Maynilad four things: continuous service, consistent quality, least environmental impact, and disaster resiliency,” he remarked.

Also gracing the event were Spanish Ambassador to the Philippines Jorge Moragas Sánchez, MPIC President and Maynilad Board Director Jose Ma. K. Lim, and government officials, namely: Laguna Lake Development Authority Assistant General Manager Generoso Dungo, Quezon City 2nd Dist. Rep. Winston Castelo, MMDA Deputy Chief of Staff Michael Salalima, DENR Undersecretary Jonas Leones, National Security Council Deputy Director General Vicente M. Agdamag, and Marikina City Rep. Bayani Fernando.

Maynilad Chairman Manuel V. Pangilinan leads the inauguration of the PWTP 2 in Barangay Putatan in Muntinlupa City. Joining him are some company and government officials.

Earthquake and fire safety seminar held

The Maynilad Safety Department recently organized an earthquake and fire safety seminar to reinforce emergency preparedness throughout the organization—an essential action plan in sustaining business operations.

Discussed in the seminar are the basics of fire safety and methods to prepare for an earthquake, especially in anticipation of the “Big One”—a looming 7.2-magnitude earthquake caused by a West Valley Fault movement, which is expected to happen in this lifetime.

Seminar attendees included some Maynilad officials, members of the head office EPRT (Emergency Preparedness and Response Team), as well as other MWSS Complex tenants, including MWSS Corporate Office and Regulatory Office, Manila Water, and the National Anti-Poverty Commission.

Resource persons from the Bureau of Fire Protection Quezon City Fire District-Quirino 2A Fire Substation also gave lectures and conducted simulations on emergency safety and health procedures, fire brigade composition, and fire extinguisher demonstrations, among others, coinciding with the month-long fire prevention last March.

The Safety Department also facilitated an earthquake and fire exit evacuation drill at the MWSS Complex following the seminar. Currently, the head office EPRT members are actively engaged in group chats, and have been equipped with hand-held radios for immediate communication in case of emergencies.

Maynilad employees learn how to use fire extinguishers through demonstrations held during the seminar.


NEWS

PayMaya now accepts Maynilad bill payments

Community programs receive int’l recognition

As part of efforts to make transactions with Maynilad more con-venient for its customers, the water company recently partnered with PayMaya—a mobile application that offers a safe and hassle-free option for Maynilad customers to settle their bills.

Customers can get PayMaya by downloading its mobile application, signing up on Facebook Messenger, or availing of the physical card. Through PayMaya, Maynilad customers can settle their bills anytime and anywhere by following four easy steps:

1. Log-in to PayMaya app and go to the “Pay Bills” tab2. Choose Maynilad as the biller

Maynilad’s social enterprise programs gained international honors at the 11th Annual Global CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) Summit and Awards in Sarawak Malaysia, and in the recently concluded Asia-Pacific Stevie Awards held in Singapore. The company won a Platinum Award under the “Best Community Program” category of the Global CSR Awards for its “Water-centric Social Enterprise Programs”. This covers initiatives such as Sining Ipo, which engages the Dumagats of the Ipo watershed in environment conservation efforts through art; Kapwa, which organized a group of women in Tondo into a water cooperative that was trained to produce home and personal care products; and Green Badge, which trains another water cooperative in Quezon City to upcycle old Maynilad uniforms into rebadged shirts and other items for disaster survivors. These established community businesses were recognized as exemplary capacity-building programs, besting other participating countries in the same category. Maynilad is one of only two Filipino companies awarded in this year’s Global CSR Awards. The company’s Green Badge program, on the other hand, earned for Maynilad a Gold Stevie Award under the “Innovation in Energy and Sustainability” category. The Asia-Pacific Stevie Awards are the only business awards program to recognize achievement in the workplace in 29 nations of the Asia-Pacific region. This year, the awards received more than 900 nominations from organizations across the Asia-Pacific region.

Advocacy head Rosmon Tuazon (left) receive the company’s “Best Community Program Platinum Award” from Malaysia’s Minister for Welfare, Community Welfare, Women, Family and Childhood Development YB Dato Sri Hajjah Fatima Abdullah (center) and Global CSR Summit & Awards 2019 Director, Speaker and Mentor Dr. Martin Blake.

Maynilad wins a Gold Stevie for its “Green Badge: Uniform Upcycling Program” at the 2019 Asia-Pacific Stevie Awards held in Singapore. Accepting the award is Maynilad’s Advocacy and Marketing team (from left) Mayna Salindong, Rosmon Tuazon, Abigail Ho-Torres and Arrianne Gamotin.

3. Enter Maynilad account number and the amount due4. Review the detail entered and click “Pay”

PayMaya has over 15,000 loading partners, including Bayad Center, 7-Eleven, Palawan Pawnshop, Smart Padala Centers, SM Stores Business Services and Robinsons Department Store Business Centers.


NEWS

MOU with QC to ease WSC applications

ASRA recognizes Maynilad’s 2017 Sustainability Report

Quezon City residents applying for new water service connections (WSCs) with Maynilad will now get faster application approvals, as the processing of the required excavation permits and restoration works will be trimmed down from the current 21 processing days to only 10 processing days, and will entail less visits to the city hall.

This was made possible as Maynilad recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the QC government, initiating process improvements to streamline how city residents apply for new WSCs, in line with QC’s efforts to promote ease of doing business among its constituents.

Present during the MOU signing were (from left) MWSS Administrator Reynaldo Velasco, Maynilad Customer Experience and Retail Operations Head Christopher Lichauco, Department of Trade and Industry Secretary Ramon Lopez, QC Mayor Herbert Bautista, and Maynilad Chief Operating Officer Randolph Estrellado.

“As a water service company, we always strive to look for ways to enhance customer experience, and this partnership with the local government of Quezon City is a huge step toward that goal. It is our hope that we will be able to forge similar partnerships with the other cities and municipalities within our concession area,” Estrellado said.

Maynilad’s 2017 Sustainability Report was recognized as one of the finalists in the 4th Asia Sustainability Reporting Awards (ASRA) held in Singapore last March 6, 2019.

Titled “Expanding Horizons”, the report focused on the non-financial risks and opportunities in relevant economic, social and environmental dimensions. It was declared Finalist in seven different ASRA categories, namely: Asia’s Best Sustainability Report (Stand-alone), Asia’s Best Materiality Reporting, Asia’s Best Stakeholder Reporting, Asia’s Best Workplace Reporting, Asia’s Best Environmental Reporting, Asia’s Best Supply Chain Reporting, and Asia’s Most Transparent Report.

Maynilad is one of the first few companies in the country to produce a sustainability report after it came up with its very first stand-alone report in 2011.

ASRA recognizes and honors sustainability reporting leaders in Asia, and is the highest recognition for corporate reporting in the region. It is open to all types and sizes of private, public and non-profit organizations in all sectors that produce a sustainability report or an integrated report in Asia.

Corporate Quality, Environment, Safety and Health Head Atty. Roel S. Espiritu accepts the certificate recognizing Maynilad as one of the finalists in the 4th Asia Sustainability Reporting Awards.


NEWS

RSF celebrates birthday with “water for the poor” project launch

Maynilad President and CEO Ramoncito S. Fernandez celebrated his 63rd birthday through an outreach activity and launch of a program that provided water access to some 420 urban poor families in Bacoor City, Cavite.

The program—called “Pag-asa sa Patubig Partnership” (P3)—connects waterless, underprivileged communities to Maynilad’s distribution system. P3 is a partnership between Maynilad and “Tubig Pag-asa” (TPA), a Filipino social business created by global non-government organization Eau et Vie.

Before Maynilad connected the P3 beneficiary community to its distribution system, the residents relied on water vendors that sell overpriced water. “The P3 program is one of our contributions to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, which aim to attain water access and sanitation for all by 2030,” said Fernandez.

Coinciding with the P3 launch is the Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH)-focused outreach activity for indigent communities, the highlight of which was Fernandez’s distribution of homecare products, hygiene kits and school supplies to the beneficiary families from Barangay Talaba II.

RSF (4th from left) leads the P3 inauguration together with (from left) Bacoor Transparency Livelihood Group President Nonardo Cabahug, E&V Tubig Pag-asa Manager Maridette Tabuco and E&V Tubig Water and Life Philippines Country Director Engr. Alexia Michels, Progressive Community Association President Leonardo Noces, and Maynilad COO Randolph T. Estrellado.

A Barangay Talaba II resident receives homecare products and school supplies from RSF during the outreach activity.

Project STREAM to improve maintenance mgmt.

Maynilad, through its Integrated Asset Management Division, recently launched Project STREAM—one of the largest information technology system projects ever implemented in the organization.

STREAM, which stands for Strategize, Think and React: Enterprise Asset Management, is a computerized maintenance management system that aims to lessen manual processes, improve transparency in transactions and efficiency in the system, and provide unified software for maintenance work. Enhanced data management and gathering, as well as faster turnaround time for requests, are some of the other benefits that will result from the project.

Specific company procedures that would work with STREAM include work permit management and safety incident, outage planning and approval, tools management, external calibration and certification, maintenance processes, refurbishment process, and asset disposal.

A highlight of the project launch was the unveiling of the “STREAM Team”, comprised of characters that represent the three key features of the project, namely: Liksi, who symbolizes STREAM’s faster and better conduct of work processes; Latha, who embodies STREAM’s capability to store important information and make it available as needed; and Tanaw, who represents STREAM’S capability to forecast and strategically plan for the future given the data on hand.

Employees who attended the launch learned more about STREAM while visiting exhibit booths manned by the project’s “change agents”—employees from different Maynilad divisions who will initiate the project. STREAM will go live in August.

One of STREAM’s change agents discusses the benefits of the project to fellow Maynilad employees after the launch.


NEWS

Potable water for earthquake victims

Maynilad helped in relief efforts for victims of the recent 6.1-magnitude earthquake e that hit Pampanga by providing safe, drinking water for some 1,700 affected families.

The company lent a 10-cubic meter water tanker to the local water district, which used it for three days to deliver potable water to residents of Brgy. Diaz and Camias in the town of Porac, and Brgy. Baruya and San Rafael in the town of Lubao. These upland communities experienced water supply interruption and discoloration following the earthquake last April 22.

In addition, Maynilad donated 3,000 pieces of bottled water for the rescue workers deployed in the search-and-retrieval operations in Porac, Pampanga.

“It is incumbent upon us to do what we can to assist the disaster survivors, and providing potable water is the least we can do at this stage. We are glad to serve our kababayans in Pampanga,” said Maynilad President and CEO Ramoncito S. Fernandez.

Maynilad’s earthquake relief efforts were done together with the Philippine Disaster Resilience Foundation (PDRF) and Alagang Kapatid Foundation.

Residents of Brgy. San Rafael line up to get water from Maynilad’s water tanker.

RSF speaks on seismic risk management

Maynilad President and Chief Executive Officer Ramoncito S. Fernandez joined a distinguished panel of presenters at the “Megacities at Risk: Engineering Resilience to Seismic Hazards” conference to discuss private sector perspective on the importance of sustaining the delivery of basic services in times of earthquake and other disasters. In his talk, Fernandez spoke of what Maynilad has done and is currently doing to reduce the risk of earthquakes and similar calamities on its operations. According to him, Maynilad is addressing the risks by focusing on three areas of intervention, namely: structures, processes and people. “We know that risk management is not a one-time thing, and having a good system in place is key. Maynilad will continuously pursue ways to ensure that we protect lives, minimize service interruption, and rapidly restore services to customers in the event of a seismic catastrophe,” said Fernandez, adding that Maynilad’s ISO 22301:2012-certified Business Continuity Management System attests to its sustainability, operational resiliency and recovery during disaster situations. The conference aims to foster deeper collaboration between countries situated in the Pacific Rim (like the Philippines, Japan, United States and Chinese Taipei) through the identification of mechanisms for mutual cooperation before a disaster strikes. It was organized by the Carlos P. Romulo Foundation in cooperation with the National Resilience Council, National Research Institute for Earth Science and Disaster Resilience of Japan, National Science and Technology Center for Disaster Reduction, and APEC Emergency Preparedness Capacity Building Center of Chinese Taipei.

With RSF (6th from left) during the panel discussion were (from left) Dr. Haruo Hayashi, President of the National Research Institute for Earth Science and Disaster Resilience of Japan; Dr. Wei-Sen Li, Secretary General of the National Science and Technology Center for Disaster Reduction of Chinese Taipei; Prof. Pan Tso-Chien, Executive Director of the Institute of Catastrophe Risk Management of Nanyang Technological University in Singapore; Adoracion Navarro, Undersecretary for Regional Development of the National Economic Development Authority; Michael Salalima, Deputy Chief of Staff of the Metro Manila Development Authority Philippines (representing MMDA Chairman Danilo Lim); and Joe Curry, Regional Adviser of the US Agency for International Development/Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance.


NEWS

500 runners join third Maynilad Media RunMore than 500 runners from the media and their families participated in this year’s Maynilad Media Run. Now on its third year, this “Run for Health” marathon aims to promote health and wellness among media practitioners, whose schedules are often swamped with stressful work and tight deadlines.

Held for the first time in a much bigger venue at the Aseana City in Parañaque, the fun run featured 4K, 6K and 10K race categories to cater to both hard-core and lifestyle runners.

Employees from the country’s various television networks, radio stations and publications took time off from their busy schedules and spent their Saturday morning on the grounds, visiting booths set up by more than 18 event sponsors where they were treated to some games and freebies.

The Maynilad Media Run was co-presented by Aseana City, Fitness First, De Los Santos Medical Center, Clyde, Circulan, and Lung-Care Plus with PLDT, Gardenia, ChekHup and Gullon as major sponsors.

TV5 reporter Bim Santos won second place in the 10k race category.

Love Añover of GMA 7 has been joining the Maynilad Media Run for three consecutive years now.

Maynilad’s Street Dance team sets an active mood for the participants

Players from Meralco Bolts and NLEX Warriors give their support to the media runners.

Participants enjoyed checking out the booths and treats from the sponsors.

This year’s media runners enjoying the race.


NEWS

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.

Coffee and Protein

If you’re that coffee-lover who also takes nutrition seriously, then Coffee and Protein is the place for you. Strategically located near a fitness gym, this café is a sure favorite among health buffs given their protein-infused offerings.

More than your usual neighborhood café, Coffee and Protein is a wellness coffee shop that offers nutritious yet delicious food and drinks. It serves specialty coffee infusions like Cold Brew Macho—a perfect mix of coffee and whey protein—and other blends best enjoyed without sugar to get the unadulterated flavor of coffee beans from Brazil and Panama. It also offers protein-infused dishes, including their guilt-free cheeseburger in protein waffles made with lean beef patty!

Tired of visiting the usual coffee shops for your daily caffeine fix? There are quirky cafés in the West Zone that offer delicious coffee and nibbles within an insta-worthy backdrop. Visit these

places and take your café experience to the next level.

Address: 3rd Floor, The Rock Lifestyle Hub, Holy Spirit Drive, Q.C.FB and IG: coffeeandproteinCall: 0977 401 2396Email: [email protected]

By Lalaine Dixie L. Tiangco

Around the town for“insta-worthy” cafés

Dim Ka Phe

A visit to Dim Ka Phe is not only about “insta-

worthy” food and drinks but also about having fun

with family and friends while enjoying some of your

favorite board games.

Dim Ka Phe is a Chinese food and coffee bar that

serves tasty Chinese dishes, coffee, coolers,

sandwiches and cakes, among others. For an

approximate budget of ₱900 for two persons, you

can enjoy classic Chinese dishes like Pata Tim and

Oyster Cake. Millennials can also indulge in some

Asian blends of milk tea.

Address: Unit-C 86 Maria Clara St., Santo

Domingo, Banawe, Quezon CityFB and IG: dimkapheCall: 0966 350 3274Email: [email protected]


COLUMNHead for the West

Firefly Coffee

1919 Grand Café The Den

From its humble beginning as a small stall inside a university, Firefly

Coffee has transformed into a full-fledged specialty coffee shop. It

promises a great café experience with its wide variety of handcrafted

beverages for coffee and non-coffee drinkers alike. With the

establishment’s minimalist look and comfortable feel, this could well be

your go-to place for a leisurely bite and a good cup of coffee. Its famous

creamy affogato drowned in house-blend espresso is a must-try.

1919 Grand Café will take you down memory lane,

as it sits at the ground floor of the restored former

HSBC Building, a colonial-era structure located in

Manila’s Chinatown. The sweeping high ceilings,

sophisticated windows and columns, classy

furnishings and re-painted façade are picture-perfect,

adding to the overall dining experience.

The establishment serves a wide array of

American, Italian, Filipino and Chinese dishes that

can be enjoyed both by the young and the “young

at heart”. You’ll have to save up for a visit, though,

because a meal here could set two persons back by

around ₱3,000.

Get that much-needed alone time or spend quality time with friends at The Den, a specialty coffee shop located right at the heart of old Manila. With a look and feel that lives up to its name, The Den is a haven for the creative types who best enjoy a good cup of coffee or meal matched with meaningful communions in a unique space. For its coffee-based products, The Den gets its beans from Kalsada, an organization that champions Philippine specialty coffee by supporting the country’s local coffee producers.

Address: 112 Sto. Domingo Avenue, Quezon CityWebsite: fireflycoffee.phFB and IG: fireflycoffee.ph

Address: 117 Juan Luna St., Binondo, Manila,

1006 Metro ManilaCall: (02) 429 7068

Address: UB Make Lab First United Building, 413 Escolta St., Binondo, ManilaFB and IG: thedenmanilaCall: (02) 960 3650


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

Dispelling “Big C” myths

Breast Cancer Colon Cancer

Dear Doc Ric,

I’ve always been afraid of the Big C. I tend to worry even more with all of the information circulating about it. For instance, is it true that wearing an underwire bra can cause breast cancer? And if I have a family member who has cancer, does it automatically mean that I’ll also get one?—Cancer-Free

Dear Cancer-Free,

While it’s perfectly normal to worry, it would be best if we have the right knowledge about cancer by knowing the myths and facts about it. For this particular column, I will focus on two of the most common C’s today: breast cancer and colon cancer.

By Ricardo Jose Miranda, M.D.

MYTHS FACTS

Most breast cancer is hereditary.

Only 5 to 10% of breast cancer is thought to be hereditary, while 90% is largely due to lifestyle and environmental factors.

Wearing underwire bra can cause breast cancer.

Wearing an underwire bra does not cause breast cancer, according to a scientific study done in 2014.

Regular mammograms can prevent breast cancer.

Mammograms do not prevent breast cancer, but it can save lives by determining breast cancer in its earliest stage when it is most treatable.

All breast lumps or masses are malignant.

About 90% of breast lumps are benign but it is still important to have it checked by a doctor.

Using antiperspirant or deodorants can cause breast cancer.

According to a National Cancer Institute research, there is no conclusive evidence linking the use of antiperspirants or deo-dorants to the subsequent development of breast cancer.

Breast cancer only affects women.

Each year, approximately 2,190 men are diagnosed with breast cancer, and 410 of them die. Men carry a higher mortality rate than women primarily because awareness among them is low, and they are less likely to consider a lump as breast cancer, which can cause a delay in seeking treatment.

MYTHS FACTS

There’s no need for a test if there is no history of colon cancer, and if there are no stomach or bowel problems.

Age is the most important risk factor for colon cancer. Almost 3,000 new cases of colon cancer are diagnosed every year, and over 94% of these are found in those aged 50 and above. Individuals in this age group should be routinely tested.

There’s no need for a test if there are no symptoms associated to abnormalities in the bowel function.

In its early stages, colon cancer may show no symptoms; thus, screening is important. If colon cancer is detected at an early stage, the chance of survival is over 90%.

When one is diag-nosed with colon cancer, it is likely that it’s already spreading to other parts of the body.

Once cancer is diagnosed, cancer experts will perform tests to determine the best course of treatment depending on the stage and condition of the tumor. The earlier the lesion is identified, the less likely the tumor will spread to other parts of the body.

There’s no need for women to undergo screenings/ colonoscopy.

Anyone over the age of 50—male or female—should get colonoscopy every 5 to 10 years.

I’m older than 50, but my family doctor didn’t advise me to get a colonoscopy, so I might not need one.

It is still best to be proactive and take control of your health by getting medical consults.


COLUMNDoc Ric Says

An installed pressure data logger used in E-Favor.

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

By Abraham B. Barcelon

E-Favor as alternative to Step Testing

The reduction and management of non-revenue water (NRW) is an essential part of any water service company’s job, as it ensures efficiency in providing customers with reliable access to potable water.

Back in 2007 before re-privatization, Maynilad lost about 1,500 million liters per day (MLD) of treated water, and 75% of this was due to physical losses or pipe leaks. This was what led the company to implement one of the largest NRW reduction projects in the world, which entailed the creation of a dedicated Central NRW Division and the adoption of a District Meter Area (DMA) management approach.

PROS AND CONS OF STEP TESTING

Part of the strategy was Active Leakage Control, a proactive approach to reduce physical losses by addressing both “surfacing” and “non-surfacing” leaks through leak awareness, leak localization, and repair.

To localize leaks in a DMA, a method called Step Test is used. Step Testing is

conducted during the minimum night flow period when water consumption

is very minimal. This is done by isolating a series of pipe sections in a DMA and thereafter monitoring the drop in flow rates. The segment with the biggest drop in flow rate signifies the section with the largest leak.

While Step Testing has been proven effective, there are certain

challenges to the method—i.e., it involves implementing a water service

disruption, it can give rise to some water quality issues, and it poses higher safety risk to

the NRW team. To address this, CNRW sought an alternative method.

HOW E-FAVOR WORKS

One of the alternative methods is E-Favor (short for Extended Fixed and Variable Orifice), a leak localization approach that detects existing underground leaks using different pressure settings. It involves reducing pressure within a DMA and deriving burst or leak indicators from changes in water flow between two pressure loggers.E-Favor is said to be resilient to modelling errors since it employs changes in head loss as burst indicators.

The method is a suitable substitute to Step Testing under certain conditions—i.e., when supply interruption should be avoided, when the district meter is defective, and when the gate valves are overlaid, unavailable or located in dangerous spots, such as in the middle of a highway.

To test the results of E-Favor, it was conducted in several DMAs, and the outcomes were compared to the Step Tests also conducted on the same nights. It was discovered that the two methods provide the same results by showing the segments feeding the possible leakages, but each method works in different ways. Step Testing, for instance, uses flow data and requires the closure of valves while the activity is performed within 2 to 4 hours. Hence, it necessitates a brief supply interruption. The method, however, quantifies the volume of leakages and is proven to be more accurate.

E-Favor, on the other hand, is faster to conduct (at only 30 minutes to one hour). It uses pressure data loggers and only requires a reduction in pressure during the activity. However, it only provides an indication of leakage locations.

Ultimately, Step Testing and E-Favor have been proven to work well in localizing leaks, providing the data needed to properly conduct repairs and reduce water losses in DMAs. Using either method, when best applicable, is part of the company’s arsenal in controlling leaks and promoting overall efficiency.


COLUMNNRW Watch

Joy Arce: The joy of leadingBy Jecelyn Macahindog-Leobrera

Do you have co-workers who deserve recognition? Submit to us their stories of excellence. Ripples will publish the best employee profiles that demonstrate remarkable work attitude, leadership ability and customer service skills.

According to bestselling author John C. Maxwell, “A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way and shows the way”.

Joy Marie Arce of Central Non-Revenue Water (CNRW) lives by Maxwell’s take on leadership. She sees being a leader as an opportunity to help others grow and, in the process, become a better version of oneself.

“Being a leader is not easy. Most of the time, people only see the limelight that comes with the role but, honestly, that is just one side of the coin. It’s a tough role that requires so much, that’s why leaders should be willing to give a big part of themselves,” she says.

Arce, who bagged the Outstanding People Manager award at the recently concluded CXRO-HR Conference, heads Support Services under the Planning and Support Department of CNRW. She leads her team of 17 in preparing Capex and Opex budget reports, and monitoring the status of Purchase Requisitions, contractors’ billings and service levels, among others.

By the very nature of their job, they countercheck the output of contractors, billing specialists and project inspectors. This necessitates a strong commitment to the company’s core values of honesty and integrity.

To keep herself grounded, Joy starts her work day in quiet meditation, reading passages from “Our Daily Bread”. She also takes time out to establish rapport with her co-workers by arriving at the office by 7 a.m. so they can bond over breakfast before diving to work.

In the course of heading Support Services, Joy led the creation and implementation of the NRW Management Information System (MIS), an exclusive database for the division that is used to monitor its Key Performance Indicators, Service Level Agreements and Customer Satisfaction Surveys, among others.

The NRW MIS also serves as a preventive System Improvement Plan and Monitoring (SIPAM) tool—a best practice to avoid the issuance of an official SIPAM, which is given after three

Joy Marie Arce was named Outstanding People Manager in the recent CXRO-HR Conference.

At work, Joy always lends a helping hand to her teammates, and coaches them so they may reach their fullest potential.

consecutive months of performance failures. Through it, the division gets to track the root cause of failures or below-standard performance and promptly identify corresponding action items.

While her job seems all serious, Joy makes it a point to maintain a healthy working relationship with her teammates—one that welcomes feedback and suggestions. “I make sure to spend time for small talks with my team members on a regular basis. It helps to lighten up the mood somehow. Wala naman kasing trabaho na madali pero ’pag maayos ang relationship mo with the people you’re working with, then work becomes way much lighter and fun,” Joy says.

Being recognized as Outstanding People Manager is a proud moment for Joy and her team. “It definitely feels good to know that our hard work is being noticed, pero secondary na lang talaga ’yun. What’s really important is that we’re able to deliver what’s required of us, and I have team members who share the same drive,” she shares.

While leading can be challenging, there is a certain fulfillment in knowing that one’s work is instrumental in the growth of a team. But what is even more rewarding for Joy is realizing that there are people who are happy to work and grow with you.


REGULARSStars of Maynilad

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

By Kharren Mae C. Rosario, Wastewater Management Division (WMD)

While there have been unending efforts to decrease the devastating impacts of climate change, attempts at spreading knowledge and awareness on adaptation and resilience are at an all-time low. The WMD sought to address this with the holding of a “technical talk” that centered on the climate change theme.

We were treated to enlightening talks delivered by Commissioner Antonio Gaerlan of the Climate Change Commission and Engr. Angelica Manrique of the Operations Control and Monitoring unit of our very own WMD. They discussed “Climate Change Considerations for Water Supply and Sanitation” and “How Green is Wastewater”, respectively, during the May 16 event held at the Balara Head Office.

Through their talks and the ensuing discussions, we basically learned how to “roll with the punches” of global warming. Equipping our support systems with plans founded on science-based information, and being open to new types of technology are good ways to prepare ourselves for the inevitable.

It may take another decade or more before we can consider ourselves armed and ready. But it is a fight that we must all take on because, after all, we only have one earth, one home.

Commissioner Noel Antonio Gaerlan (center) receives tokens of appreciation from Maynilad Water Academy Executive Director Rodora Gamboa and WMD Planning and Management Head Jerry Palma.

We only have one Earth


REGULARSYour Page

Seismic Risk Management Strategy Team By Jecelyn Macahindog-Leobrera

Disaster preparedness is everyone’s duty as no one can predict when a natural calamity will happen and cause devastation. The fact that we are all at risk is good enough reason to always be ready and resilient.

The possibility of the “Big One” happening at any moment in this lifetime has heightened the need for holding emergency preparedness trainings and resiliency interventions throughout the country. Maynilad takes this warning seriously, and it has been regularly conducting earthquake and fire drills to prepare its employees and assets for such disasters.

In 2015, Maynilad created its Seismic Risk Management Strategy (SRMS) Team to ensure the sustainability and reliability of its facilities. The team was formed through the initiative of Engr. Joel C. Dela Cruz, head of the Engineering Department under Program Management (PMD-ENG). Making up the rest of the core team are engineers Robinson Salenga, Edison Malahito, Maria Sophia Orticio, Daniel Martinez, Cristine Joy Samson, Jayvee Gagan, Reymark De Villa, Alvin Borral, and William Provido—all from PMD.

The SRMS Team’s main task is to assess specific vulnerabilities and risks of Maynilad facilities for overall post-earthquake performance. It involves the identification of critical facilities, prioritization of specific mitigation tasks, and screening out of risks considered acceptable. This is essential for business operations continuity, ensuring that services to customers are restored within a reasonable period following a disaster.

Communicating the technicality and importance of seismic risk management across the Maynilad organization has always been a challenge to the team. “To address this, we regularly conduct internal seminars on post-earthquake assessment and the basics of seismic engineering,” SRMS core team member Orticio shares.

The 6.1-magnitude earthquake that occurred last April 22 in northern Philippines, with the epicenter located near Castillejos, Zambales, prompted the SRMS Team’s most recent training—the Post-Earthquake Damage Assessment Program (PEDAP)—which emphasized mitigation and preparedness to reduce disaster risk and/or damage. Basic structural and geotechnical facts and hazards were also discussed, as these are essential in assessing a facility. The training was able to produce 22 employee-volunteer responders, tasked to immediately assess the facilities after a seismic event.

The accreditation of responders has provided PMD-ENG the convenience of having firsthand structural safety evaluators in each site, checking the Maynilad facility where they are assigned. After an incident, the responders are expected to gather data (e.g., facility/building cracks and other signs of deterioration) and create an assessment report, which shall be submitted to the SRMS Team/PMD-ENG for review and technical recommenda-tions on how to address such deficiencies.

The recent earthquake also pressed for the assessment of all Maynilad facilities at the soonest possible time because safety is a top company concern.

“We see the SRMS program not just as an initiative to impart knowledge, but as a means to extend customer service to and within Maynilad,” Dela Cruz says.

The SRMS Team hopes to incorporate their programs to those of the existing Emergency Preparedness Response Team of the Corporate Quality, Environment, Safety and Health Division not later than the third quarter of 2019. It also sees collaboration with the Technical Services Division to supplement gaps in the current subsurface data in its Geographic Information System.


REGULARSMen & Women of Maynilad

Documents

RIPPLES - Maynilad Water Services … · JOSE RIZAL BATILES: ALWAYS UP FOR THE CHALLENGE CXRO-HR CONFERENCE: CREATING A LEGACY OF LEADERS Maynilad assures its customers that with