East Zone concessionaire Manila Water has signed a memorandum of agreement with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the local government units (LGUs) of Quezon City, San Juan City, and Mandaluyong City for the adopt-an-estero program to fully implement the clean-up and rehabilitation of San Juan River and its tributaries.
The program further underscores the commitment of each partner-agency to address pressing issues about the environment.
Also signed was the updated usufruct agreement between the DENR and Manila Water for the upgrading of the East Avenue Sewage Treatment Plant in Quezon City.
The upgrade covers the retrofitting of the facility in compliance with DENR Administrative Order 2016-08 which set the standards for biological nutrient removal in treated effluent, as well as the expansion of its sewerage network.
Last January, DENR Secretary Roy Cimatu said that one of the department’s goal is to clean the San Juan River and Manila Water immediately responded by pledging its support by way of the Adopt-an-Estero program.
The concessionaire initiated due diligence of San Juan River and its tributaries to help formulate technical and social solutions by “adopting” the creeks that traverse the cities of Quezon City, San Juan City, and Mandaluyong City.
The LGUs pledged to support desludging services or siphoning of septic vaults in the households; provide cleaning materials during the clean-up drives; and participate in information, education, and communication campaigns and other river clean-up programs which are some of their initiatives under the Adopt-an-Estero program.
DENR Assistant Secretary Ricardo Calderon, representing Cimatu, thanked Manila Water and the other partners for their unwavering support through the implementation of various programs and initiatives geared towards the protection of the environment.
Mayors Joy Belmonte and Francis Zamora of Quezon City and San Juan City echoed their full support and both lauded Manila Water’s consistent efforts with strong commitment on further expanding water and wastewater services.
