(GNA-Greenwoods News Association) Inilunsad na ng Greenwoods Samahan ng Kababaihan,Inc. (GSKI) ang sariling online group sa pamamagitan ng social media site na Facebook. Dahildito, mas mapapadali ang pakikipag-ugnayan ng mga kababaihan tungkol sa mga usapin atpagkilos, sampu ng mga proyektong tungo sa pagpapaunlad at pagpapaayos ng buhay sakomunidad.

Ayon kay Gng. Nancy A. Morco, pangulo ng GSKI, kasama ito sa pagsulong ng kanilang grupoupang gawin pang mas madali ang pagpapatupad sa kanilang mga mithiin at maging ng pagsapi at

pagpaparami na rin ng miyembro. Nauna rito ay kinilala na ang grupo ng Sangguniang Bayan ng Cainta bilang accredited Non-Government Organization (NGO) sa nasabing bayan sa pamamagitan ng Resolution No. 2008-048. Kinikilala din ang organisasyonbilang isang rehistradong institusyon ng Securities and Exchange Commission (Company Reg. No.CN200808202 at Company TIN 007-044-926) (sundan sa pahina 2)

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KABKABKABKABKABABABABABABAIHAN NAIHAN NAIHAN NAIHAN NAIHAN NG GREENWG GREENWG GREENWG GREENWG GREENWOODSOODSOODSOODSOODSNNNNNAAAAAGLGLGLGLGLUNSUNSUNSUNSUNSAD NAD NAD NAD NAD NG SG SG SG SG SARILINARILINARILINARILINARILING FB GRG FB GRG FB GRG FB GRG FB GROUPOUPOUPOUPOUP

SOCIAL MEDIA GALVANIZES GREENWOODS EXEC.

VILLAGE HOMEOWNERS TO ACT ON WATER WOES

It was discovered that MWCI puts GEVHAI in

the semi-business category under the bulk water

supply arrangement since water is supplied to

non-residential structures like the village

clubhouse, parks, and business establishments.

The high water rate right now is attributed to our

high system loss due to pipe leakages and

pilferage. Since water, just like electricity is more

costly as one consumes more, this jacks up the

average monthly consumption of water from less

than 30 cu. m/mo to about 53 cu. m./month (since

water, just like electricity is more costly as one

consumes more of it). This translates to about PhP

27.37 / cu. m as per GEVHAI’s presentation last

year.

According to Ms. Nancy Morco, President of the

Greenwoods Samahan ng mga Kababaihan, Inc

(GSKI) which is behind the signature campaign

Individual homeowners at the Greenwoods Executive Village which spans PasigCity and the Municipalities of Cainta and Taytay have decided to use socialmedia to more efficiently build consensus on village issues such as the chronicburden of water bills. Spurned on by the valiant efforts of concerned mothersand women of Greenwoods who have been tirelessly gathering signatures atthe gate, a facebook group has been put up on Feb. 24, 2012. In less than 2hours, 191 members have signed up through the efforts of neighbors andfriends. As of presstime, 267 are members and counting. Signatures gainedhave risen to 1000+.

nothing to do with any lingering political issue

but is centered exclusively on the water issue.”

Ms. Morco explains . Rather than be

discouraged, the women have turned to social

media and other more strategic communications

tools with the help of individual home owners

who see the logic and advantage of direct

connection with Manila Water.

PROVIDING RELIABLE

INFORMATION. The high water

rates issue has been lingering for quite

some time but with no clear

communications strategy to inform

the general public, discussions

have been limited to GEVHAI

officers and a few private

efforts. “Kesa naman umasa sa

haka-haka or kuro-kuro o kung

anumang hearsay pa, bakit di

na lang sumali sa usapang

magka-kapitbahay nang

mapag-usapan natin ng

diretso.” Ms. Morco

explains. “Then we can own and agree on any

viable follow-up actions. Importante, lahat

makasali sa usapan.”

the reason was simple. “Dahil

kami pong mga nanay ay sobra

ng nahihirapan sa taas ng

presyo ng tubig. Alam po nating

lahat ito. Ang layunin po namin

at lahat naman siguro tayo ay

mapababa ang presyo ng

ating TOO BIG”.

Instead of being lauded

for their selfless efforts,

their tent has been

u n c e r e m o n i o u s l y

dismantled and

removed for

unknown reasons and by equally unknown

persons when the security guards of newly

hired Tri-G agency took over.“This is very

unfortunate. The signature campaign has

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solution which can be implemented within a reasonable time frame.)

MGA PANGMATAGALANG TUGON(LONG TERM OPTIONS)

1. Ilipat ang mga kalye ng Greenwoods Exec. Village sa lokal napamahalaan. ‘Iyon nga lang ay magiging pampublikong pamayananna ang Greenwoods bagamat mawawala na ang anumang balakid na

pasuking ng MWCI ang lugar at talagang mapapababa ang singil satubig (mga P7,000 lang ang gastos kada bahay para sa tubo/metro)

[Turn over Greenwoods streets to the LGUs (Pasig, Cainta, andTaytay) which turns the whole village into an open community.Individual metering will go down (about P7,000 investment cost/

household) as there will no longer be any major impediments forMWCI to come in—but at the cost of privacy and the risk of increasingtraffic from everywhere within the village.]

2. Bigyan ng Sta. Lucia ang MWCI ng “right of way” upangmakapaglatag ng mga tubo. Magdedepende pa rin ito sa available na

pondo ng MWCI. Papayag naman ang Sta. Lucia sa kondisyong lataganang buong Greenwoods. May kahirapan ito sa ngayon dahil kokontranaman ito sa probisyong 50% +1, kung saan ang lugar ay dapat higit

sa 50% nang okupado upang magawa ng MWCI ang indibidwal napagmemetro. [Sta. Lucia should grant MWCI the right of way.Implementation will still be subject to availability of MWCI’s funds.

Sta. Lucia is agreeable provided MWCI takes over the whole ofGreenwoods. However, if it is the whole of Greenwoods, MWCI willhave to wait until the area has more than 50% occupancy in order to

be able to implement individual metering.]

· Kung pumayag man ang Sta. Lucia na magbigay ng right of way saPasig at Cainta areas ng Greenwoods, puwede ring makakilos na angMWCI. Papatak pa rin ang gastos ng tubo at pagpapametro sa PhP30K++ dahil babayaran natin ang mga tubo at labor nila. (Idadagdagito sa monthly bills bilang hulugan sa loob ng mapagkasunduangpanahon). [If Sta. Lucia agrees to give rights of way for Pasig and

Cainta areas of Greenwoods, MWCI can implement (timing wouldstill be subject to the availability of their funds). Under this option,individual metering cost falls in the PhP 30K++ range (We pay for

the pipes and labor of MWCI). This will be spread over an agreedtime period as a ride-on to your monthly bills]-

Sta. Lucia can be persuaded to provide right of way for Pasig/Cainta.This is what happened to Phase 1-H. RDC is the developer of both Phase 1-H and Mercedes Village. Both areas are now on individualmetering because of the right of way granted to MWCI. For number 2, please note that GEVHAI and Sta. Lucia must execute a deedof donation for the pipes to MWCI. These are the same pipes that we paid MWCI for. The donation is necessary because MWCI willbe maintaining it (and once they own the system, they own the system losses). The MWCI is also known for their efficiency.Magandang araw po sa inyong lahat!

4

Psst! Bata, sali ka din! www.facebook.com/groups/GreenwoodsYouth/

Ang Greenwoods Times ay naghahanap ng mga batang “reporters/photographers” para sa 2nd issue! Bibigyan ng libreng training mula sa mgaeksperto ang mapipili. Magsubmit lang ng sample na artikulo samygreenvillage@groups.facebook.com

Para sa mga nais magpromote/bumati/magpa-anunsyo, magbubukas po angating munting pahayagan ng ads page...abangan sa FB ang karagdagangdetalye.

(cont’d on p2)

1

“Inaanyayahan po namin ang lahat ngmga kababaihan dito sa Greenwoodslalo na po ang mga nanay. Kami po’yhandang sumuporta at kumalinga samga nais sumapi. Naniniwala po kamina ‘pag kasama namin kayo aymaitataguyod nating mabuti angkapakanan ng bawat miyembro. Sino-sino pa ba naman ang magdadamayankundi tayo ding mga kapwakababaihan.”-ani pa ni Gng. Morco, o‘Ate Nancy’, kung tawagin ng mgakasama’t kaibigan.

Ayon naman sa GSKI, madali lamangang pagsali sa facebook group. “Mag-log-in lang po sa inyong Facebook ac-count at i-search ang ‘Women ofGreenwoods’ o kaya naman ay i-typelang ang www.facebook.com/groups/GSKI2012/ at syempre puwede dinmag-email sa amin:GSKI2012@groups.facebook.com”

Sa pamamagitan ng“Women of Green-woods” Facebook Page,ay magkakaroon ng in-stant updates. “Puwedeng magkaroonng malaya at maayos na talakayan/diskusyon at mapagsasama-sama natinang natural na galing ng kababaihan.Kaugnay po nito ay inaanyayahan anglahat na makisali—makialam, maki-tsismis, este, makibalita! Pagsama-samahin ang inyong lakas at ganda(naks) upang magkaroon ngmagandang pagbabago dito sa atingmunting pamayanan.” anyaya pa nggrupo. •••

Deciding to be here with a solution rather than be part of the problem, the GSKI has decided to

turn to more efficient channels of communication in order to encourage intelligent discussions

on this issue so that more solutions can be pursued with more efficiency and effectiveness.

BRINGING THE ISSUE ONLINE. International Development expert, Dr. Bernadette Gonzales,

(DPA, UP-National College of Public Administration and Governance) and herself a resident of

Greenwoods, sees the importance of transparency and participation as key to moving forward.

“Ang sama-samang suporta sa aksyon sa tubig, ang magpapadali sa katuparan ng adhikain

nating magkaroon ng direktang linya sa MWCI. Bababa ang ating water bill. Ang system losses

ay hindi na sa atin sisingilin, bagkus eto ay magiging concern na ng MWCI.” she shares. She

sees that Web2 applications like social media keeps the conversations live, transparent, up to

date and has the built-in advantage of bringing as many minds into topics via “simultaneous

learning” events.

“Our village occupies land areas under the jurisdiction of Pasig, Cainta, and Taytay. Cascading

information and updates, particularly on village issues is very difficult. Social media is the

perfect vehicle to bridge these gaps.” Adds Engr. Mannix Moya, also a resident and among the

first to sign up. Mr. Moya is a corporate executive who has been graciously sharing helpful

information with the group. “This issue binds us. I believe we want the same thing. If you do

mind your water bills, then it’s best to join us on this initiative.”

“BUSY” NOT “INDIFFERENT” HOMEOWNERS. "Hindi naman sa walang paki-alam ang

mga karamihan ng homeowners, talaga lang sobrang busy din at may kani-kaniyang isyung

hinaharap. We just need to create an engagement mechanism for “shared understanding”--

‘Yung painless at madali ‘ika nga. Meeting of minds? Social media is a tool that helps us get

there faster." quips another resident, Joel Wayne Ganibe, who advises organizations like

WorldBank, ADB, UNICEF and government institutions on strategic communications and

knowledge management. “Meron tayong face to face discussions, puwede ding online. May mga

tarpauline para sa mahahalagang anunsyo at meron ding newsletter--siguro naman magkaka-

unawaan na tayo niyan!” he adds.

SUCCESSFUL PRECEDENTS. GSKI explains the voluntary "citizen’s initiative" of having a

signature campaign is inspired by the success of other villages like Parkwood Pasig, Mercedes

Village, and Greenland Subdivision which are now on individual water metering because their

residents launched an independent signature campaign. If people sign up, they know it’s just

making their position clear on the water.

CLEAR CONTEXT/MEANING. The FB group clarifies the context and meaning: the signatures

merely say that “yes, as far as my Greenwoods Exec Village property is concerned, we are

interested in having individual meters/connections with Manila Water Company and that if ever,

we are open to any reasonable capital expenses to be loaded to our monthly bills for a specific

"recoupment Period"--It does not "close" or "perfect" any transaction or bind any one in a formal

contract. Should 3,000 signatures be gathered, we can ask endorsements/direct assistance

from local government. "Hindi po ito concern ng isang phase o street lamang, dapat po

magtulungan lahat ng taga-Greenwoods dahil para sa ating lahat naman po ito".

IMMEDIATE WINNERS. An anonymous donor has volunteered to make the initiative

more interesting by adding a game: The 500th member to sign up at www.facebook.com/

groups/mygreenvillage will have a refund for his/er water bill

for the month or P3,000 whichever is lower ! The one who

added the member will have the same refund as well. Details

will be explained at the docs section of www.facebook.com/

groups/mygreenvillage. It is hoped that this issue will help

transform indifferent neighbors into an active, caring and

nurturing community. Mabuhay! •••

KABABAIHAN...(mula P.1)

MM: Samakatwid, ang pagkakaroon ng mga negosyo sa loob ng amingvillage at ang mataas na system loss ang mga dahilan sa pagtaas ngkonsumo ng tubig na siya namang dahilan ng mataas na singil?

Sagot: Tama po iyon.

MM:Kung ganoon, ano po ba ang maari naming gawin?

Sagot: May pangmadalian at pangmatagalang pagkilos ang puwedengpagpilian

SA MADALIANG PANAHON (SHORT TERM OPTIONS)

1. Kinakailangang palitan ng GEVHAI ang istruktura ngpaniningil (GEVHAI must restructure the billing system)

• Ang paniningil ay dapat base sa konsumo upang tulad din ngibang open communities, mas maraming konsumo, mas malaki angbayad (di tulad ngayon na pinaghahatiang pantay ng bawat kabahayanang konsumo ng buong village, mataas man o mababa ang sarilingkonsumo)

[Billing must be based on consumption— the more you consume,the higher your rate for water becomes.) Checkout the rating tablesof both Maynilad and MWCI for more details (see next page)]

• Singilin din ang mga may negosyo dito sa loob ng village, ngkatumbas sa commercial rate. Ibig sabihin, mas mataas ang waterrate ng mga negosyo kaysa sa purong residente lamang. Hindi namanpuwedeng ideklara ng mga may negosyo dito sa loob na dapat ay pang-residential pa rin ang singil sa kanila gayong malinaw na negosyonaman talaga ang kanila.

[Bill business establishments the equivalent of a commercial rate.This means the water rate of the businesses inside the village must

be higher than that of a resident. These business ownerscannot claim that they should enjoy a residential rate, whenin fact, they are, running a business even if they do residein that particular property or elsewhere]

•Hindi rin po dapat gamitin ng GEVHAI ang simpleng“majority votes” mula sa hanay ng mga board members dahilkung karamihan sa kanila ay may mga negosyongnakapuwesto dito sa loob ng village ay maaaring magkaroonng conflict of interest. Baka mas mahusay pa kung bawatArea ay magtalaga ng “representante sa tubig” na ang tangingmisyon ay makipagtulungan sa GEVHAI Water committee.[GEVHAI Board cannot simply use majority votes indeciding for this issue, particularly if majority of the boardalso have businesses in the village. There is conflict ofinterest. As such it might be a better idea for each area todesignate a “water representative” whose sole task is to workwith the GEVHAI’s board water committee.]

•Dapat ding ipaalam ng GEVHAI sa MWCI ang bilangng mga gumagamit ng tubig (kabahayan man o komersyal/negosyo) dahil nga ang singil ay katumbas ng nakonsumo

(sa kabuoan) na pinaghati sa bilang ng mga gumagamit. Masmarami ang gumagamit, mas maliit ang nagiging “averageconsumption”.

(GEVHAI must also update MWCI as the number of waterusers in the village increases. This is because: Water Rate

= Volume Consumed/No. of water users. The more declaredusers, the lower the water rate. If this is not implemented,we the homeowners end up paying a high water rate!)

Isa pang mahalagang gawin ay paliitin ang aksayang dulot ngpagtagas dahil sa kahinaan ng imprastraktura. Kinakailangan

ang solusyong teknikal sa tamang panahon. (Another importantfactor is to lower the system loss. There must be a technical

Tanong: Bakit ho ang taas ng singil ng tubig sa amin

Sagot: Dahil po sinisingil ng MWCI ang GEVHAI gamit ang rate code: AVESEM4028 – Semi –Business Category.

Tanong: Paano naman po naging “semi-business” ang GEVHAI?

Sagot: Pumapaloob sa kategoryang iyan kapag napasama na ang mga non-residential establishments sa water supply ng area.Halimbawa na po diyan ang mga simbahan o lugar sambahan—kapag may supply ng tubig. Ang mga Parks at club houses– kapagmay supply din ng tubig. Siyempre, ang mga nakatayong negosyo tulad ng sari-sari store sa kapitbahay, mga salon, conveniencestores, warehouse at mga garahe ng jeep o anumang pampublikong sasakyan

Tanong: Eh bakit naman po halos ginto naang singil?

Sagot: Tulad din po iyan ng kuryente, masmalaki ang konsumo, mas malaki din angpatak kada cubic meter. Ang karaniwangkonsumo ng isang purong residential area ayhindi hihigit ng 30 cu.m kada buwan. SaGEVHAI, ang average consumption ay 53.73cu. m/mo. Ayon sa pinaka-huling datos ngMWCI, mayroon nang 4,028 mixed water(residential and business) users sa inyongvillage. Para ilarawan ang pagkakaiba, pansinin sa kanan:

2 3

GreenwoodsTimes is a free, publicservice newslet ter made possiblethrough the joint efforts of GSKI,MyGreenVil lage (FB Group), andindividual sponsors.

EDITORIAL BOARDNancy Morco, Mannix Moya,

Bernadette V. Gonzales,

Editorial Consultant:Joel Wayne Ganibe

Everybody is free to join andparticipate.For comments/suggestions/

contributions: please emailmygreenvillage@groups.facebook.com

Magandang araw po mga kapitbahay! Para lang sa paglilinaw ngusapin sa tubig, hayaan nyo pong ibahagi ng inyong lingkod angpersonal na pakikipanayam kay Ginoong Carlito G. Cruz, BusinessZone Manager ng Manila Water Company Inc. (MWCI) para sa Pasigbusiness area.

TTTTTANONGANONGANONGANONGANONGAAAAAT SAT SAT SAT SAT SAGOGOGOGOGOTTTTT--Mannix Moya, ECE, MBA

(cont’d on p4)

SOCIAL MEDIA...(cont’d from P.1)