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2020 Integrated Report

CREATING RIPPLES OF CARE
THROUGH WATER AND SANITATION

Sustainability at Manila Water

Contributing to Local and National Economies

IF-WU-240a.4

Manila Water is a vital partner in economic growth at the community and national levels. In the course of expanding service coverage and providing customers with quality water and wastewater service, Manila Water invests heavily in and operates essential infrastructure which create jobs and opportunities within the organization and across the supply chain. At the personal level, the Company contributes to the improved health of customers with the delivery of clean water and sanitation, ensuring optimal productivity of individuals which in turn fuels local and national economic growth and helps lessen inequality and reduce poverty.

SUPPORTING THE ECONOMY DURING A PANDEMIC

Water is essential for drinking, sanitation, and food production for millions of people. It is imperative that the Company maintains a steady supply of water across homes, communities, healthcare facilities, schools, and other public spaces. This need was magnified in the country’s strategic responses to the pandemic, one of which is the frequent washing of hands to prevent the spread of disease. Manila Water ensured that the distribution of clean water was uninterrupted, despite the mobility restrictions and health hazards to water utility personnel who are also considered frontliners. Disconnection activities were suspended, and as the pandemic left millions of Filipinos with limited income, grace periods and installment schemes for paying water bills, and through online means, were offered to customers. For commercial and industrial customers that suffered from the economic slowdown, Manila Water ensured that water supply did not become a limitation, best exemplified by the uninterrupted services by the Laguna and Clark subsidiaries which serve major industrial zones.

In 2020, Manila Water provided direct employment to 2,311 individuals in Metro Manila and its subsidiaries across the Philippines, Vietnam and Indonesia. No Manila Water employee lost his or her job due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The health and safety of the Company’s frontliners was a topmost priority as meter reading and bill delivery were suspended during the enhanced community quarantine, but continuous employee productivity was ensured through innovative measures. Work-From- Home arrangements for employees were established and health protocols were developed for employees who needed to report to the main office, work hubs, facilities, and project sites.

Aside from supporting employees, the Company also assisted the workers in the supply chain so that CAPEX projects will continue uninterrupted. Unlike Manila Water which secured an exemption from the quarantine restrictions, the contractors needed support from the Company to secure government approvals to mobilize.

In 2020, the Company provided business opportunities to 558 vendors, 195 of which were new engagements compared to the 2019 vendor pool. The accredited vendor pool is shared among the East Zone Concession and the Company’s subsidiaries across the Philippines. As part of the strengthening of the procurement system of the Company’s subsidiaries, Manila Water Philippine Ventures established its localized procurement offices and process in the second half of the year. Similar to the East Zone Concession, the localized procurement policy continues to embed sustainability in its practices through incorporating social and environmental elements in its vendor accreditation process. Moving forward, the Company aims to establish a system for estimating the number of indirect jobs from those businesses through their engagement with Manila Water.

 

CAPEX Disbursements in PhP
2016 8.8 B
2017 13.0 B
2018 10.0 B
2019 12.8 B
2020 12.1 B

 

Despite the slowdown brought by the pandemic, the Company’s investments in service expansion and reliability were felt by the larger community of stakeholders as capital expenditures reached Php 12.1B. Planned CAPEX disbursements for the next few years are expected to be record-setting as the Company fulfills its commitments to provide water to more customers, secure the future supplies of water, expand the capability to protect the environment through wastewater treatment, and ensure the resiliency of the said services.

The Company provided business opportunities to 558 vendors

Manila Water provided direct employment to 2,311 individuals in Metro Manila and its subsidiaries across the Philippines, Vietnam and Indonesia.