La Mesa Ecopark celebrates World Environment Day with youth #ECOmmitments for climate action

Anchored on this year’s theme, #NowForClimate, youth leaders and representatives from various youth organizations gathered at the La Mesa Ecopark to engage in a series of targeted eco-activities. The event successfully highlighted the vital role of the younger generation as future climate champions equipped to address escalating environmental challenges.

In honor of World Environment Day 2026, the Manila Water Foundation and La Mesa Ecopark recently hosted an event focused on youth-led environmental advocacy. 

Based on this year's theme, #NowForClimate, youth leaders and representatives from various youth organizations gathered at the La Mesa Ecopark to participate in a series of targeted eco-activities. The event successfully highlighted the importance of the younger generation as future climate champions prepared to face escalating environmental challenges.

The celebration began with a special screening of the inspiring documentary "The Foresters: A Story of Climate Keepers," organized in collaboration with MAD Travel. The film, which chronicled real-life stories of grassroots communities and young people working together to protect nature, inspired participants to take an active role in conservation and cultural community outreach. 

Following the screening, the youth participants put their inspiration into action by writing down their individual #ECOmmitments. These pledges outlined specific, actionable steps they will take to practice responsible environmental stewardship, emphasizing the importance of individual responsibility in achieving a sustainable future.

The youth leaders then took a guided #BiodiverCity Walk through the La Mesa Ecopark, which is a rich sanctuary of diverse tree species. The trail included an educational visit to the Butterfly Garden, which provided a closer look at the fragile, thriving ecosystems. 

To leave a lasting, positive impact on the watershed, a ceremonial tree planting event was held to highlight the long-term benefits of reforestation. Youth participants planted two seedlings of Mangkono (Xanthostemon verdugonianus), a rare tropical hardwood endemic to the Philippines also known as Philippine Ironwood. The Malampaya Foundation donated the ecologically valuable seedlings, which represent strong cross-sectoral collaboration in environmental conservation.

The celebration concluded with a hands-on seed extraction activity. Having marveled at the towering Kupang (Parkia timoriana) trees earlier on their BiodiverCity Walk, participants enjoyed extracting seeds from their pods. The collected seeds will be nurtured at Bahay Punlaan and eventually spread throughout the La Mesa Ecopark and the adjacent La Mesa Nature Reserve. 

The World Environment Day event is a preview of more eco-activities at the La Mesa Ecopark, which will open Phase 2 in July. The public can expect more spaces for groups and families to enjoy leisure activities, teambuilding, and connecting with nature.

In celebration of World Environment Day 2026, Manila Water Foundation and La Mesa Ecopark recently hosted a gathering dedicated to youth-led environmental advocacy. 

During this World Environment Day celebration, the Manila Water Foundation and La Mesa Ecopark successfully demonstrated the wave of collective action fueled by youth passion, demonstrating that the next generation holds the key to creating a sustainable, climate-resistant world.

Manila Water Foundation gets two Anvils at the 60th PRSP Awards Gabi ng Parangal

Manila Water Foundation (MWF), the social development arm of Manila Water Company, has received two (2) Silver Anvils in the recently held 60th Anvil Awards Gabi ng Parangal, organized by the Public Relations Society of the Philippines.

Manila Water Foundation (MWF), Manila Water Company's social development arm, received two (2) Silver Anvils at the recent 60th Anvil Awards Gabi ng Parangal.

Manila Water Foundation and its partner Prime Infra Foundation received the first silver Anvil in the Public Relations Program - Sustainability Communications category for their entry “Digging Deep Together: A Water System for the Katutubo Village in Porac, Pampanga.” Through the program, MWF and Prime Infra Foundation developed a water system facility to address the Ayta Mag-indi cultural community of Katutubo Village's long-standing water access challenge.

The deepwell facility is supplemented by the formation of an organized, Aeta-led Water Access, Sanitation, and Hygiene, or WASH Group, which will manage and maintain the community investment, ensuring the WASH infrastructure's sustainability. 

MWF also bagged an Anvil for its Project Drink Pilipinas! Campaign which involves the provision of refrigerated drinking fountains to public schools and institutions.

The project ran for one year, from October 2023 to October 2024, and centered on parallel developments, the construction of a new Deep Well Facility, and the formation of a local WASH Group. This group is made up of community representatives, the majority of whom are women, who attended learning sessions to gain technical knowledge about the water system's operations and management, as well as activities aimed at reinforcing positive behavior and strengthening leadership skills. The intervention directly contributes to the achievement of UN SDG 6, which calls for universal access to clean water and sanitation, through UN SDG 17's Partnerships for the Goals strategy.

PRSP also bestowed its second silver Anvil upon MWF's “Project Drink Pilipinas! Hydrating Filipinos for Health” falls under the Public Relations Program - Corporate Social Responsibility category.

Project Drink Pilipinas! aims to promote hydration for health by providing the public with access to clean, potable water through the installation of refrigerated drinking fountains in public places for students, community members, and visitors. 

Project Drink Pilipinas! also promotes proper solid waste management and encourages the community to reduce the use of PET bottles and the consumption of sugary drinks, particularly among children. The Manila Water Foundation has expanded the project's scope beyond public schools to include public parks, hospitals and health centers, airports, and tourism centers.

As of 2024, 207 Refrigerated Drinking Fountains have been installed in public schools and public service institutions throughout Metro Manila, Boracay Island in Aklan, and the Clark Freeport Zone in Pampanga. A total of 364,060 people now have access to clean, safe drinking water.

The Public Relations Society of the Philippines organizes the annual Anvil Awards, which recognize outstanding programs and tools in public relations and communications through a rigorous selection process by esteemed PR professionals and a distinguished multi-sectoral jury.

Manila Water Foundation and partners underscore benefits of handwashing for Global Handwashing Day

On Global Handwashing Day itself, Manila Water Foundation and PHILUSA Corporation, held an event at the La Mesa Ecopark in Quezon City with Barangay Urban Farmers, Solid Waste Management Workers and TODA members of Barangay Greater Lagro and Barangay Fairview.

In honor of Global Handwashing Day (GHD), Manila Water Foundation, the social development division of Manila Water Company, recently organized two on-site activities. In San Juan City, the first event was a much-anticipated celebration, and in Quezon City, GHD hosted an event at the La Mesa Ecopark.

San Juan City Representative Bel Zamora, the San Juan City Council, and Mayor Francis Zamora hosted MWF in San Juan City.  

The Manila Water Foundation and P&G Safeguard presented donations to the City Health Department during the flag ceremony held at San Juan City Hall on Monday. Three WASHup were donated by MWF! P&G Safeguard provided boxes of liquid hand soap for the city's health initiatives, along with handwashing stations. 

To help barangay health workers continue to promote hand hygiene in their families and in their city, a SAFEWASH in Families and Communities health talk was also organized. 

The Manila Water Foundation and PHILUSA Corporation hosted an event at Quezon City's La Mesa Ecopark on the actual Global Handwashing Day. The celebration of Global Handwashing Day was attended by Barangay Urban Farmers, Solid Waste Management Workers, and TODA members from Barangay Greater Lagro and Barangay Fairview. Representative Patrick Michael Vargas of Quezon City's 5th District was also present to commend the barangay workers' dedication to maintaining the district and to remind everyone of the importance of practicing good hand washing as a health habit.

In order to show their dedication to the environment, PHILUSA Corporation, under the direction of President and General Manager Neogin Evangelista, began the day with a tree-planting event at the Ecopark prior to the GHD event. The Manila Water Foundation, on the other hand, reminded the locals of the importance of handwashing and the seven steps to proper handwashing. 

In collaboration with the Quezon City Health Department, the Manila Water Foundation also commemorated Global Handwashing Day with students from the Early Childhood Care and Development Center. In an effort to engage the local communities, MWF collaborated with Boracay Water, Laguna Water, and Tagum Water in Davao del Norte to host Global Handwashing Day events.

Every year on October 15, the world observes Global Handwashing Day, an advocacy day aimed at raising awareness of the value of washing hands with soap and water as a simple, practical, and reasonably priced method of halting the spread of infectious diseases and saving lives. The Manila Water Foundation is still dedicated to spearheading campaigns for this celebration through its program, Health in Our Hands, which aims to support community health and well-being by reaching out to schools and communities. 

On Global Handwashing Day in October, and in every day, Manila Water Foundation reminds everyone to keep safe and WASHup, WASHup!