Manila Water bags two Merit Awards at the 21st Philippine Quill Awards

Manila Water Foundation’s Project Drink Pilipinas! and Manila Water Sustainability Team’s Katubig Currents: Stories & Actions for a Sustainable Future both earned recognition at the 21st Philippine Quill Awards held at the Manila Hotel recently.   

At the 21st Philippine Quill Awards, which were hosted at the Manila Hotel, Manila Water Foundation and the Sustainability Team each received a Merit Award for their exceptional communication initiatives that promote environmental stewardship and public health. 

Pilipinas Drink Project! was honored in the area of Corporate Social Responsibility and was headed by the Manila Water Foundation.  The program encourages drinking enough of water for both environmental and health reasons.  By means of Project Drink Pilipinas! More than 400 refrigerated drinking fountains (RDFs) have been placed by the Manila Water Foundation in important public areas like parks, hospitals, and popular tourist spots to promote community health and wellbeing.  Students, faculty, and staff now have convenient access to clean, refreshing drinking water thanks to the installation of RDFs on campuses around Metro Manila.

Now that more than 752,987 people have access to clean, drinkable water, the initiative promotes the use of washable cups or tumblers and opposes the "throw-away" culture of single-use PET plastic bottles, which can contaminate streams and result in flooding.

“Project Drink Pilipinas! of Manila Water Foundation calls on more partners and donors to bring refrigerated drinking fountains to more schools and public spaces. Through partnerships, let us quench the public’s thirst for clean, potable water, promote hydration for health, and care for the environment by supporting solid waste management programs of cities and communities.” ~Rej Andal, Manila Water Foundation Executive Director

A Merit Award in Sustainability Communications and Breakthroughs and Innovations was given to the Manila Water Sustainability Team's Katubig Currents: Stories & Actions for a Sustainable Future initiative.  The program uses an internal storytelling platform called Kwentong Katubig in conjunction with employee-led watershed restoration initiatives called Pasibol: Puno ng Pag-asa to promote a sustainable culture.  With more than 1,600 hours of volunteer work, 22 articles published, and numerous employee-driven inventions, Katubig Currents equips Manila Water staff to be climate resilience advocates.

“Katubig Currents reflects the heart of our sustainability journey—empowering every Manila Water employee to be a storyteller, a changemaker, and a steward of our shared future. This recognition affirms our belief that real climate action begins within.” ~Sarah Bergado, Manila Water Sustainability Director

The Philippine Quill Awards, organized by the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) Philippines, is the country’s most prestigious recognition program for business communication excellence.