EAST Zone concessionaire Manila Water recognized 89 top-performing barangays for their outstanding achievements in desludging at the recently concluded virtual Gawad Ka-Toka Awarding Ceremony for the years 2019 and 2020. The event aimed to recognize the efforts of Manila Water’s partner-communities for their exemplary performance and dedication in promoting environmental protection through proper sanitation and desludging activities.

Manila Water President Jocot de Dios lauded the efforts of the barangays and extolled the partnership of the company with local and national government agencies for the Toka Toka wastewater advocacy.

“Since we began our Toka Toka program nine years ago, the commitment of our partner-communities and institutional partners particularly the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) has made all our efforts to restore the beauty of our rivers and waterways more comprehensive, collaborative and meaningful,” De Dios said.

MWSS Administrator Leonor Cleofas further emphasized the importance of paying tribute to the barangays that help us implement our programs.

“We are able to do this with the help of the two concessionaires. We are happy that Manila Water has launched the Toka Toka program in collaboration and partnership with our barangay officials. We want our people to understand how important desludging of septic tanks is, how it helps our environment and protect our families and our communities”, Cleofas said.

Meanwhile, MWSS RO Chief Regulator Patrick Lester Ty said that the Toka Toka program of Manila Water is essential in the expansion of sanitation coverage in the East Zone communities. Ty also encouraged everyone to connect to available sewer lines and have their septic tanks desludged every five years.

For his part, DENR Undersecretary Jim Sampulna commended the company for its Gawad Ka-Toka Awards as it perfectly aligns with DENR’s strategy of involving the barangays in cleaning up the waterways and in rehabilitating Manila Bay.

“We have greatly reduced the volume of solid waste in Manila Bay and various waterways. So, now, fecal coliform counts in Manila Bay have gone down significantly and continues to go decrease.

This is a testament to the cooperation of our barangay communities with the private concessionaires and Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS). We are pleased that Manila Water has been providing its millions of customers, not just water but also sewerage and sanitation services,” Sampulna said.

Of the 89 barangays cited, 39 barangays were recognized for their desludging accomplishments in 2019 while 50 barangays were acknowledged for their 2020 achievements.

The 39 awardees for the 2019 coverage were barangays Fortune, Malanday, Nangka in Marikina City; Brgy. Guinayang and Maly in San Mateo, Rizal; North Signal in Taguig City; Brgy. West Rembo and Brgy. Rizal in Makati City; Brgy. Escopa 3, 4, and East Kamias in Quezon City; West Crame in San Juan; San Vicente in Angono; San Carlos in Binangonan; Brgys. Malinao, San Nicolas, Sta. Cruz, Bagong Ilog, Manggahan and Sumilang all in Pasig City; San Jose and San Roque in Antipolo; Brgys. 764, 776, 790, 791, 798, 799,802, 806, 808, 810, 814,819 all in Manila; Brgy.Valenzuela, Guada Nuevo and Olympia in Makati City; Barangka Drive and Barangka Itaas in Mandaluyong City.

The other 50 barangays that were recognized covers the year 2020 were Brgys. Burol, Daang Bakal, Hagdang Bato Libis, Old Zaniga, Pag-asa, Hagdang Bato Itaas and Namayan in Mandaluyong City; Batis in San Juan; Industrial Valley in Marikina City; Balite and San Isidro in Rodriguez, Rizal; Gulod Malaya in San Mateo; Maharlika Village, Central Bicutan, Hagonoy, and Upper Bicutan in Taguig City; Batasan Hills in Quezon City; San Pedro and Sto. Nino in Angono; Layunan, Libid, Palangoy and Tagpos in Binangonan; San Juan, Taytay; Buting and Kalawaan in Pasig City; Brgys. 763, 768, 771, 773, 774, 777, 781, 784, 785, 786, 787, 788, 789, 794, 797, 800, 801, 805, 811, 812 all in Manila; Pinagkaisahan, Singkamas, Pitogo and South Cembo in Makati City.

Joining the event were Manila Water Chief Operating Officer Abelardo Basilio and representatives from DENR, LLDA, DPWH, DILG, MMDA, local governments units, barangays and other national government agencies.

The “Toka Toka” advocacy is the first and only environmental program in the country that actively promotes wastewater treatment and management. Under the Toka Toka advocacy, Manila Water encourages individuals and entities to participate by adopting any of the following four simple acts that include proper disposal of garbage, availment of desludging services, connecting to Manila Water’s sewer network, and supporting Manila Water’s community-based sanitation projects.