Mar.-Apr. - Maynilad Water Services Inc.

Editorial Note
Weathering
El Niño
Every day, we hear of news about El Niño and
how it has drastically affected various industries
and areas in the Philippines. Fortunately, Maynilad
is now better equipped and capitalized to address
the effects of this weather phenomenon.
This issue of Ripples focuses on the company’s
initiatives—from leak repairs, to deep well
reactivations, to pumping station and reservoir
construction works—to ease the impact of El
Niño on our customers. Other topics of interest
are also discussed so readers and their family
members are better prepared for El Niño.
Challenges bring out the best in people. And with
everyone’s cooperation we can all safely weather
the challenge that is El Niño.
Cheers,
Editorial Director
:
Editor in Chief
:
Managing Editor
:
Associate Editors :
Cherubim G. Ocampo
Jennifer R. Casipit
Rosmon M. Tuazon
Mitchie M. Arcaina
Reggie M. Indon
Correspondents: Paulo M. Catibayan, Tita V. Mancera,
Sisenando T. Lampa, Yolanda C. Lucas, Diosdado N.
Samia, Rodrigo O. Yabut, Elizabeth S. David, Roan
M. Cortez, Lolit M. Lota, Tess M. Artiaga, Victorino M.
Gamboa, Ryan B. Jamora
Circulation Manager : Grace A. Laxa
Photographer
: Federico L. Juane
Ripples is the official publication of Maynilad Water
Services, Inc. for Maynilad employees and friends.
Ripples welcomes contributions, letters, photos, and
artwork for publication. However, these materials
become Ripples property and are subject to editorial
changes. Send contributions to the Corporate Affairs
and Public Relations Department, 2/F Maynilad Bldg.,
MWSS Compound, Katipunan Road, Balara, Quezon
City; Tel. Nos. 981-3451 to 52; Email: jennifer.casipit@
mayniladwater.com.ph and [email protected]
2
ripples March 2010
Features
IN THIS ISSUE
March 2010
FEATURES
3 Ensuring West Zone water supply
4 West Zone reconfigured for better customer service
5 El Niño phenomenon: A closer look
6 Impact of El Niño on Maynilad operations
9 Arellano, Espiritu and Monoso win the 2010 Golden Meter Awards
10How to use water responsibly
PROFILE
8 The lady on the lookout for leaks
NEWS
13PRSP honors
Samahang Tubig Maynilad
13Maynilad discusses
NRW in 31st PAWD National Convention
17Maynilad management, supervisors seal new CBA
17Potable water reaches Purok 7,
Parañaque thru ‘bayanihan’
18 Maynilad, Smart launch Text Tubig
19 Maynilad partners with
USAID, Rotary Int’l.
19 Maynilad sewage plant passes IMS recertification
REGULAR COLUMNS
12Doing Right
Protecting the environment starts with us
14Doc Ric Says
Common health problems during El Niño
15NRW Watch
The story behind Binondo’s NRW
16Dong’s Corner
Water leaks, Water wastage
18Inflow, Outflow
How I am preparing for El Niño
20The Men and Women of Maynilad
Environmental Management
Ensuring West Zone water supply
Maynilad acts to avoid water
shortage during El Niño
By Rosmon Tuazon
Reduced rainfall and high temperatures in recent
months have led to the steady decrease of water
levels in Angat Dam, where 97% of the West
Zone water supply is sourced.
The decline prompted the National Water
Resources Board to cut down its raw water
supply allocation to the Metropolitan Waterworks
and Sewerage System and correspondingly to the
two private concessionaires.
To minimize the immediate impact and possible
effect of the reduction on its customers, Maynilad
started implementing a number of mitigating
measures as early as January this year.
Manage pressure in
distribution system
Step up supply and
leak repair
According to Rodrigo Yabut, Head of Maynilad’s El
Niño Task Force, daily valving operations are being
done to regulate flow and pressure in the network,
which changed with the reduced volume of water. More
than 400 Pressure Regulating Valves (PRVs) in various
points have also been reset based on high and lowdemand hours to balance pressure in the system.
Maynilad has earmarked P314 million for an intensified
leak repair program, which aims to recover 92 million
liters per day (MLD). A total of 2,965 leaks have been
scheduled for repair by the Central Non-Revenue
Water, with leak repair teams increased from 60 to 105
(see related story on page 6 to 7).
The use of pumping stations and reservoirs are being
maximized by refilling reservoirs during off-peak hours
when pressure is high. Interconnection works and
installation of more valves have also been programmed
to equalize pressure and provide better control in
critical areas.
Maynilad has also put 29 deepwells on stand-by for
immediate reactivation once the need to augment
its raw water supply from Angat becomes apparent.
Operations of in-line boosters have also been extended,
and new pumps will be constructed in areas prone to
supply reduction.
Through proper valve adjustments, leaks can be reduced
by preventing pressure buildup in the system while
excess water is diverted and stored at the reservoirs.
Sustained water quality monitoring will also be done
since low water pressure increases the possibility of
contaminants intruding in the system through illegal
connections, leaks and illegal boosters. Continues
Installation of a Pressure Regulating Valve under the Total
Pipe Replacement Project in Sampaloc, Manila.
Maynilad CNRW personnel inspect the repaired leak near
Barangay Talipapa Hall along Quirino Highway.
Maynilad Water Services, Inc.
3
Features
El Niño phenomenon: A closer look
Maynilad Acts... from page 3
By Jennifer Casipit
Augmenting not
Rationing
Educating
the public
Maynilad is acquiring and preparing equipments that
will enhance its capability to augment water supply
in areas that will be hardest hit by El Niño. These
equipments include water tankers, stationary water
tanks and portable water treatment equipments.
Maynilad is working double time to inform the public
on the extent of El Niño’s impact on West Zone water
supply. Through print ads, flyers, streamers, text blasts,
etc., customers are also advised to use water responsibly
and report illegal connections and leaks to Maynilad
Hotline 1626.
If the reduced water pressure results in less than six
hours of water coverage, these hard-hit areas will
be supplied additional water through Maynilad’s
stationary water tanks. The tanks will be refilled at least
three times a day by the company’s water tankers or
contracted service providers.
We all know that El Niño is an anomaly that
reduces rainfall and consequently affects water
supply for Metro Manila. But what is it really?
What processes cause the phenomenon and
what are its overall effects?
Since surface waters in this area stay warm, the normal
upwelling of cold, nutrient-rich water from below is
displaced, causing a sharp decline in fish population
and lesser catch for fishermen.
The Central Non-Revenue Water team also initiated
dialogues with local government units and government
offices such as MMDA and DPWH to secure their full
support for Maynilad’s intensified leak repair program.
With its modernized infrastructure, proactive mitigation
measures and active support of government and the
public, Maynilad is confident that it can weather the
negative effects of El Niño.
The phenomenon has been dubbed “El Niño” by
Peruvian anchovy fishermen who observed the warming
of ocean currents along the coast of South America
around the Christmas season. A condition showing
reversed characteristics of the El Niño has been given
the contrasting feminine name of “La Niña.”
T
o explore the answers, let’s take a look at the Pacific
Ocean.
Static Water Tanks such as this one will help augment
supply in hard-hit areas.
Informing customers is an integral part of Maynilad’s
campaign.
The phenomenon is first felt when trade winds that
usually blow toward Asia from South America weaken.
Since there is hardly any wind to cool surface water
in the eastern Pacific and restrict warm water in the
west, a general warming of the equatorial Pacific Ocean
occurs.
West Zone reconfigured for better customer service
March 1 saw the implementation of a new setup for Business Area
(BA) Operations as the West Zone was reconfigured into water
districts to allow for better management of water supply.
T
4
he reconfiguration will result
in the creation of four water
districts—North, Central A, Central
B, and South—and the reduction of
the 16 existing BAs into 12 following
the merging of some offices.
Roosevelt-Quirino, South Caloocan
(Central A District); South ManilaPasay/Makati, Sampaloc, Tondo
(Central B District); and Cavite,
Muntinlupa, Parañaque (South
District).
The 12 new BAs are: North
Caloocan, Valenzuela-Novaliches,
Fairview-Commonwealth (North
District); Malabon/Navotas,
Maynilad president Rogelio Singson
said this new structure will allow the
company to be customer friendly,
as business offices become more
ripples March 2010
accessible and convenient for
customers. “These changes will also
permit us to have a faster response
time on leak repairs, investigation
orders, and new and additional
water service connections.”
With the whole concession area
reconfigured into hydraulic districts,
there is strategic allocation and
distribution of water supply from
a common source per district. This
makes possible the establishment of
profit centers, as cost is efficiently
allocated and operational savings
are generated.
El Niño is felt in other parts of the world due to
variations in atmospheric pressure resulting from
the warming of the tropical Pacific. This interaction
between ocean and atmosphere variations is called El
Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO). In the Philippines,
the phenomenon is associated with drought conditions
following either a delayed onset or early termination of
the rainy season.
While there is nothing we can do when these anomalies
occur, it pays to be aware and prepared when they do.
REFERENCES:
Philippine Institute for Development Studies
http://kidlat.pagasa.dost.gov.ph/cab/enso.htm
Maynilad Water Services, Inc.
5
Features
Impact of El Niño on Maynilad operations
By Jennifer Casipit
The oceanic anomaly known as El Niño—with its
manifestations in the Philippines of less rainfall,
soil degradation, and low food production—is a
dreaded condition that happens every five to nine
years. For Maynilad, it’s an inevitable occurrence
that must be prepared for so water supply to
customers is not unduly affected.
“O
ur raw water supply will be steadily reduced
beginning January until June so we will
implement mitigating measures such as pressure
management, deepwell reactivation, and intensified
NRW reduction drive. Nonetheless, varying impacts
on water supply and pressure will be felt by customers,
especially those located on high ground and on the
tail-end of the distribution system,” said Rodrigo Yabut,
head of Maynilad’s El Niño Task Force.
Maynilad is also coordinating regularly with concerned
government agencies and executing a detailed action
plan to address the effects of a moderate to severe El
Niño scenario (see related story on page 3 to 4).
The worst El Niño
Yabut noted that Maynilad is now more prepared to
deal with a dry spell than it was in 1998, when the
worst-ever El Niño hit the country.
Maynilad CNRW Engineering and Construction head Yolanda
Lucas, NDCC chairman and Defense secretary Norberto
Gonzales, and MWSS administrator Jose Diosdado Allado
inspect the test pit for the repair of the 400-mm diameter
mainline along EDSA in Pasay City last January 19, 2010.
“Maynilad’s water allocation was reduced by as much
as 40 percent at the height of that year’s El Niño. Water
quality monitoring was very intense and sustained. We
did not have the Umiray water source at that time, so
you can imagine how serious the problem was.”
Pump house of Maynilad’s soon-to-be-completed Villamor Pumping Station.
Maynilad has since increased its booster stations to 12
(from only six in 2007) and rehabilitated four more
reservoirs, improving capacity to store water and
optimize distribution. With mini and inline boosters up
to 34 from just 19, more pockets of elevated areas can
access water despite supply reduction.
This program will enable Maynilad to recover around
40 million liters per day (MLD) of water, which can help
offset reductions in raw water supply. As of February
2010, Maynilad has resolved 6,113 leaks (averaging 201
resolved leaks a day) compared to only 2,089 in the
same period last year.
The La Mesa Treatment Plants are now also equipped
to remove manganese in raw water, which occurs when
soil in the watershed erodes with the onset of the rainy
season following El Niño.
Good news
Maynilad is hastening the construction of the Putatan
Water Treatment Plant, which is scheduled to produce
an initial 50 MLD by May. It is also working on the
commissioning of its new Villamor pumping station by
April.
Massive leak repair
Aiding these improvements is Maynilad’s intensified
leak repair program, which has been given a boost with
the granting of a 60-day moratorium on issuances that
restrict the immediate implementation of leak repairs.
The microfiltration and reverse osmosis membranes recently
installed inside the Putatan facility, which are used in the
final water treatment prior to storage in the reservoir.
6
ripples March 2010
Contractors hard at work in the building of Putatan water
treatment plant.
“This directive from President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
will allow us to deploy our contractors faster. And in
case we encounter a running leak, we can immediately
send out our Leak Detection Team to pinpoint the leak
source,” said Yolanda Lucas, head of Central NonRevenue Water’s Engineering and Construction.
The Villamor facility has a reservoir that can store up
to 10 million liters of water. It also has the capacity to
pump water to high areas in the southern part of the
concession.
Once operational, these facilities will help mitigate
the effects of El Niño, as it will further enhance the
company’s capacity to store water during off-peak hours
and then pump the supply when customer demand is
higher.
Maynilad Water Services, Inc.
7
Profile
Features
The lady on the lookout for leaks
By Jennifer Casipit
Arellano, Espiritu and Monoso
win the 2010 Golden Meter Awards
By Reggie Indon
Wherever she is, Yolanda Lucas often finds
herself unconsciously looking at streets and
sidewalks for any sign of a leak.
I
t’s become a habit—one that stems from the “eat,
sleep, dream NRW” motto they have at the Central
Non-Revenue Water (CNRW) office. And since Yoly
heads the massive leak repair program that Maynilad
launched to mitigate the effects of El Niño, one can
imagine how great the pressure must be on this petite,
46-year-old engineer.
“In the last six months, we did 1,977 leak repairs
per month. But now, we are tasked to bring that up
to 3,000. Setting that kind of target for leak repair
activities is quite aggressive,” she notes.
Not one to back down from a challenge, Yoly has been
working closely with officials of MWSS and the National
Disaster Coordinating Council to win the cooperation of
local government units (LGU).
Yoly Lucas
“In the last six months, we did 1,977 leak repairs
per month. But now, we are tasked to bring that
up to 3,000. Setting that kind of target for leak
repair activities is quite aggressive,”
reported leaks. The Leak Detection Team is augmenting
our force by further locating leak sources.”
Norberto Gonzales (right) and Jose Diosdado Allado get a
thorough briefing of Maynilad’s leak repair activity from Yoly.
Convincing LGUs, she admits, is not easy, which is why
she’s grateful for the moratorium suspending permit
application for 60 days. Also, the presence of military
personnel during excavations will help deter resistance
from unsupportive groups.
No resources have been spared for this undertaking.
“We tapped 30 contractors to implement leak repair
throughout the West Zone, and 34 project inspectors
were deployed to monitor their work,” she reports. “In
addition, the NRW Operations of our Business Areas
were instructed to assist by validating the accuracy of
8
ripples March 2010
The pace has been hectic but Yoly is not new to this
kind of stress. She recalls a time when she monitored an
interconnection project for three straight days without
sleep and granted a phone interview to DZBB’s Mike
Enriquez immediately afterward.
Despite the demands of her job, Yoly believes that one
must not forget oneself. So she spends some downtime
at the spa whenever she can.
She also gains strength from her family. Yoly is married
to a fellow engineer and they have two kids in college,
whom they prefer to treat as barkadas. “Our ritual of
praying together at the start and at the end of the day
binds us the most,” Yoly shares.
There are many high-performing employees in Maynilad. And in
the course of their daily work, they inspire others to also perform
well in their areas of expertise. In effect, these employees not
only contribute to the company’s bottom line, they also stir the
imagination and aspirations of their peers.
T
here are few, though, whose
performance reach an even
higher level—Excellence.
As Corporate Human Capital and
Organization Development head
Roy Evalle puts it, “Excellence
takes a different breed. It calls for
innovators, creative thinkers and
honest stewards of the business.
In a world of intense competition
and instant imitation, innovation
needs to be on a big scale. Only
then will it be difficult to copy,
be differentiated, sustain a price
premium and shape markets.”
The nominees and awardees of the
2010 Golden Meter belong to this
rare breed of individuals.
Nine nominees were recognized in
this year’s awarding ceremony, with
three of them winning the muchcoveted Golden Meter. These year’s
awardees were Francisco Arellano
(Legal and Regulatory Affairs),
Roel Espiritu (CHCOD) and Korina
Monoso (Information Technology
Services). Each of the three winners
brought home a certificate of
recognition, a cash prize, and a
Golden Meter trophy.
Other nominees for the Golden
Meter were Jhonegil Ascan (Central
NRW Management), Aurora
Canape (Finance), Chris Jensen
Chua (Sewerage and Sanitation),
Eduardo Del Mundo (Business Area
Operations), Anthony Sampiano
Maynilad’s Golden Meter awardees
for 2010 (L-R) Arellano, Monoso and
Espiritu
(Technical Operations and Program
Management), and Aura Sanchez
(Logistics).
When asked how he felt about
getting the award, Arellano said,
“It is a sweet testament and
recognition of my continuing
service in the company, which I
helped establish in 1997, and in
the water industry as well. It is a
realization of my personal advocacy
on quality, environment, health
and safety—ensuring that the
company’s mission on the same are
made integral parts of our business
processes.”
To all our nominees and awardees,
congratulations and job well done.
Maynilad Water Services, Inc.
9
Features
HOW TO USE WATER RESPONSIBLY
LAUNDRY
By Jennifer Casipit
uWash clothes only when you have a full Like any resource, water should be managed and
protected to ensure its continued supply. With or without
El Niño, everyone must do their part in making sure that
our water supply is not wasted or improperly used.
load of dirty laundry.
uAvoid wearing clothing that needs In this spread, we share some practical tips on
how to use water responsibly. We hope
our readers will follow these tips so
they can help protect our precious
water supply—while maintaining
the good health and sanitation of
their families.
washing separately, e.g. dark colors or clothing with embellishments such as small beads and/or sequins.
u When washing by hand, do not allow the basin to overflow while collecting water for the laundry.
IN THE KITCHEN
u Wash dishes or clean fruits and vegetables in a basin filled with water. The rinse water can be used for other purposes, like flushing the toilet.
GARDEN
u If you must wash dishes or food uWater slowly to avoid run-off and to ensure with running water, turn on the tap only when you are ready to rinse.
uDo not over-water your plants. It’s not only u Do not thaw frozen food under running water. Plan ahead and defrost in the refrigerator or in a single pot of potable water instead.
uUse a pail and dipper (tabo) to lessen water usage during bath time.
uDo not use the toilet as a trashcan for small items like napkins and cigarette butts. This will prevent unnecessary flushing, not to mention clogging.
uTurn off the water while soaping, ripples March 2010
wasteful, it can also cause plant leaves to turn yellow.
uWater during the early hours of the day to IN THE BATHROOM
10
the soil absorbs the water.
shampooing, or brushing teeth.
reduce water loss due to evaporation.
GARAGE
uUsing a running hose to clean your car wastes about 400 liters of water. This volume can be trimmed down to 100 liters if you use a pail of soapy water.
uIf possible, park near the garden when you wash your car. This way, you can water your lawn and clean your car at the same time.
uUse a broom instead of a hose to clean your driveway and garage.
Maynilad Water Services, Inc.
11
Column
News
DOING RIGHT
By Luis Mauricio Lerma
Keep to the straight and narrow
with the help of our Internal
Audit’s counsel on ethical
behavior at work.
Protecting the environment
starts with us
S
cientists and experts may not
agree but for many, global
warming and its effects are
alarmingly real. From warmer
global temperature to decreased
rainfall, global warming is viewed as
the reason for the extreme changes
in our weather and climate.
Reduce, reuse and recycle. We
have all heard this slogan. Now let’s
put it into practice: stop impulse
12
ripples March 2010
Maynilad recently won an
Anvil Award of Excellence
for its “Samahang Tubig
Maynilad” program, which
aims to transform divided
neighborhoods into an
empowered community so
that residents in the area can
have access to safe, reliable,
and affordable water that will
improve their quality of life.
aynilad’s community
development program
provides poor communities access
to clean water by working on
issues that hinder them from being
connected to Maynilad water lines,
such as right-of-way conflicts,
land disputes, limited finances of
residents, and prevalence of water
retailer syndicates.
Understand how your ordinary
daily activities create carbon
dioxide (CO2) emissions. Carbon
Footprinting is a method used to
calculate the total greenhouse gases
produced to directly or indirectly
support human activities and is
expressed in equivalent tons of CO2.
In a nutshell, the formula computes
how many tons of greenhouse
gases an individual or organization
produces in a year and pinpoints
which particular activities are the
major contributors.
Reduce dependence on activities
that contribute to your carbon
footprint. There will always be
alternatives that are less harmful to
the environment.
By Mark Isaiah David
M
Everyone should do their part in
minimizing the impact of global
warming. We do not have to give up
our cars and appliances or live in
caves, but we do have to take more
proactive actions.
Compute your carbon footprint.
You may be surprised with the
results. Activities you thought
are completely harmless to the
environment could turn out to
be a major contributor to climate
change. Visit the website www.
wwf.org.ph and determine how you
compare with the global average for
an individual.
PRSP honors Samahang
Tubig Maynilad
The Anvil Awards recognizes the
most effective and innovative public
relations programs in the country.
In photo (L-R) are Maynilad’s
Corporate Social Responsibility
supervisor Lourdes Rivera, CSR head
Risse Jose, President Rogelio Singson,
and Corporate Affairs and Public
Relations head Cherubim Ocampo.
The Public Relations Society of the
Philippines, the country’s premier
PR organization, has been granting
the Anvil Awards to deserving
programs for 45 years.
Maynilad discusses NRW in 31st PAWD
National Convention
Maynilad and its technical partner, Miya, discussed the challenges
of Non-Revenue Water (NRW) during the 31st Philippine
Association of Water District (PAWD) National Convention held last
February 17-19, 2010 at Crowne Plaza Galleria Manila.
T
purchases, buy good quality clothes
that will last a long time, use a bike
instead of a car for short distances,
keep better track of groceries bought
to prevent food waste, find some use
for items you would normally throw
away, etc. Make a conscious effort to
pursue a greener lifestyle.
seminars will be conducted in the
coming months to prepare a core
team that will take charge of taking
an inventory of our CO2 emissions.
The end result: Continuous
reduction of emissions not only
by Maynilad but also its suppliers,
contractors, and other stakeholders.
Support Maynilad’s efforts
to protect the environment.
Management has embarked on a
noble effort to reduce our company’s
carbon footprint. A series of
By reducing our carbon footprint,
we are giving our planet a better
chance to recover and allow future
generations—our children—to live
long, healthy lives.
he event theme was “Water
District: Facing the Challenge
of Non-Revenue Water Reduction.”
With El Niño phenomenon currently
putting a strain on the supply of
drinking water, the convention
focused on strategies for water
Engineers set up the Sahara’s insertion
tube in preparation for a leak detection
activity.
loss management; methods,
techniques and technologies on leak
detection; water pilferage issues and
solutions; and NRW performance
benchmarking.
Maynilad’s Central NRW Planning
head Sherwin Mendoza delivered
a presentation titled “Maynilad
NRW Strategies: Then and Now,”
which focused on the company’s
experiences and approaches on
reducing NRW over the past years
under new sponsors Metro Pacific
Investments Corporation and DMCI
Holdings, Inc.
Meanwhile, Maynilad Leak Detection
head Rolixto Jodieres Jr. presented
the company’s plan to use within
its concession area the Sahara
Leak Detection Equipment.
The Philippines is the first Asian
country to use this state-of-theart technology, which allows pipe
inspections while mainlines remain in
service by inserting a sensor into any
tapping point of two inches or larger.
The two presentations attracted
hundreds of participants, with
the Sahara Leak Detection talk
becoming an instant hit with several
local water districts.
Other Miya consultant presenters
were Roland Liemberger on “The
International NRW Assessment
Framework”; Mary Ann Dickinson
on “The Need for Standardized
NRW Training and Certification”;
and Mai Flor on “Risk Mitigation and
Financing.”
Maynilad Water Services, Inc.
13
Column
DOC RIC SAYS
By Ricardo Jose Miranda, M.D.
Column
Got some health and wellness
concerns? Our resident medical
expert, Doc Ric, will help you
address these concerns to keep
you in excellent shape.
Common health problems
during El Niño
Dear Doc Ric:
All this talk about El Niño is making me worry about my
family’s health. What diseases are common during this
season, and how do I protect my family?—Concerned
Mom
Reduction of water loss is an
ongoing battle for the company.
Get blow-by-blow accounts of
the developments straight from
Maynilad’s CNRW engineers.
The story behind Binondo’s NRW
A
fter all pipes were replaced,
however, NRW in the area
remained high at 37 percent.
Meanwhile, 34 percent of the
7,094 total accounts remained
unmeasured.
The dry spell and resulting heat have a great impact
on one’s health—a fact that not many people take into
account.
Here are some El Niño health risks and precautionary
measures to protect your family.
A contractor fixing an underground leak detected by the Sahara.
Health Risk
Precautions
1. Diseases related to water scarcity or shortage
a. Diarrhea and Cholera
b. Urinary Tract Infections
c. Skin diseases
• Use water wisely. Prioritize household activities that are critical to the health and sanitation of your family.
• Protect water sources from contamination through proper storage
• Drink more fluids
2. Diseases related to contamination
a. Risk of paralytic shellfish poisoning (seafood may be contaminated by red tide blooms)
b. Diarrhea
•
•
•
Be mindful of shellfish bans following red tide
Exercise caution in your food intake
Maintain good personal hygiene (proper hand washing, use of clean utensils)
3.Disorders associated with high temperatures (hot and humid weather)
a. Heat cramps, heat exhaustion, exertional heat injury and heat stroke
b. Dehydration
c. Skin diseases (prickly heat. sunburn)
d. Upper respiratory infection
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Ensure proper waste disposal
Drink more fluids
Avoid tea, coffee, soda, and alcohol
Wear light clothing
Avoid strenuous physical activity
Limit excessive exposure to the sun, or spend time outdoors only after using sunscreen
Use protective clothing and ultraviolet-protected sunglasses
Maintain good personal hygiene
Take in more Vitamin C
illegal connections, and did valve
verifications at night. After repairing
two strong leaks, NRW inside one
DMA went down from 38 to 32
percent. Follow-up operations
brought this down further to 25
percent.
Another leak is found and immediately
repaired.
A directive was issued in August
2009 to bring this figure down to
below 30 percent. This entailed
doing a thorough assessment of the
network, starting with an audit of
the 800-mm service pipe traversing
Binondo to identify losses in the
primary line.
Step-testing was also done to
localize leaks. One such activity
almost got cancelled due to heavy
rains and floods. But for the Tondo
Leak Detection Team of Paulo
Balagso, there was no turning
back because a delay would prove
costly. So after identifying two
high-NRW segments, they used a
Finding none, diagnostic efforts
were focused inside the established
District Metered Areas (DMA),
where all inflow and outflow of
supply must be known. When all
four DMAs in Binondo passed
the Zero Pressure Test, the team
conducted walk-the-line activities.
Plugging leaks
The team did not leave any stones
unturned—we fixed leaks, cut
ripples March 2010
By Manuel Caldit
Aside from being a historical site
and a bustling business district,
Binondo is also the site of a
Maynilad total pipe replacement
project that was completed
in March 2007—one of the
biggest capital expenditures of
the company at the time, with
NRW expected to go below 10
percent.
Dear Concerned Mom:
I am sure that by now you are quite familiar with the
abnormal weather pattern characteristic of El Niño.
In our country, its manifestation is an extreme rise
in temperature with little rainfall, which causes the
reduction of water supply for households and farmlands.
14
NRW Watch
An engineer braves the storm to close
valves during step testing
leak correlator and Aqua Scope to
pinpoint the leak and repair it. This
reduced NRW in another DMA to
29 from 40 percent.
For the remaining DMA, the
South Leak Detection core team
conducted what was probably
the first “Acoustic Noise Logging
activity” ever done in the
country. This helped identify four
underground leaks. Along with the
closing of two illegals, the repair of
these leaks led to NRW drop from
46 to 34 percent.
Still short of the target, the Tondo
BA conducted valving operations
to reduce nighttime pressure from
33 to 16 psi. This continued until
the pressure regulating valves
were commissioned, which made
possible the reduction of NRW
in Binondo to 20.4 percent—
equivalent to a recovery of 2.62
million liters per day.
Much still has to be done in
Binondo but this accomplishment
marks a great advance in the fight
against water loss, as well as in the
teamwork of the BA and CNRW.
Maynilad Water Services, Inc.
15
Column
News
DONG’S
CORNER
Aside from being a friendly Maynilad Zone
Specialist, Dong is also a regular handyman
at home. In this column, he will share useful,
practical tips on how you can address your basic
household plumbing concerns.
Water leaks, Water wastage
Maynilad management,
supervisors seal new CBA
By Rosmon Tuazon
With or without El Niño, we should all do our share in preventing
water wastage. One of the best ways to do this is to identify and
fix leaks at home. Not only will this conserve a precious resource, it
will also prevent water supply contamination and excessive water
billing.
Maynilad management and the Maynilad Water Supervisors
Association (MWSA) successfully sealed the 2010-2011
Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) after arriving at
mutually beneficial terms that would allow the company to
improve the compensation packages of its supervisors without
compromising its financial standing.
TO FIND OUT IF YOU HAVE A LEAK, DO THE FOLLOWING:
Step 1
Close all water
outlets and
appliances that
consume water.
Step 2
Observe your
water meter. Write
down the current
reading.
Aside from underground leaks, another common cause of water
wastage and high water consumption are toilet leaks.
A leaky toilet wastes hundreds of gallons of water every week.
However, such leaks are often hard to detect since they are not
immediately visible.
Step 1
Flush the toilet.
Step 2
Observe if there is a
bubble of water and
an audible stop of the
running water.
ANOTHER EASY WAY TO CHECK FOR TOILET
LEAKS IS TO DO THE FOLLOWING:
Step 1
Remove the
tank lid, then
flush.
Step 2
After the
flapper/tank
ball drops and
the tank refills,
add several
drops of dark
food coloring.
Step 4
Step 3
Wait at least 20 If any trace of
color appears
minutes.
in the toilet
bowl, there is
a leak.
If you find a leak after doing the above steps, you should
immediately contact a trusted plumber to have the leak repaired.
If the leak occurs before the water meter, call the Maynilad Hotline
1626 for free and quick leak resolution.
The contents of this column are for educational and entertainment purposes
only, and should not be interpreted as technical or professional advice. Readers
should contact a trusted professional for their specific plumbing problem.
16
ripples March 2010
Maynilad and MWSA officials during the signing of the 2010-2011 CBA for
supervisors last February 22, 2010.
T
Step 3
If you continue to
hear water running,
the toilet is having a
“run-on” plumbing
problem.
By Rosmon Tuazon
T
rue to the Filipino adage “Kapag may
hirap, may ginhawa”, around 600
families from Purok 7 in Brgy. Moonwalk,
Parañaque City now have reliable and
affordable water supply after toiling sideby-side with Maynilad workers during
project implementation.
Volunteer residents from the Purok
7 communities of Perville, Vasquez
Compound, Rodriguez Compound, Bicol
Region, Riverside 1 and Riverside 2 did
the excavation and backfilling of trenches
for around 700 meters of new pipes, while
Maynilad’s Parañaque Business Area
performed pipe-laying, service connection
and restoration works.
Step 3
Read the meter
again after 5 to
10 minutes. If the
meter reading
changed, there may
be an underground
leak in your house.
TO FIND OUT IF YOU HAVE A TOILET LEAK, DO THE FOLLOWING:
Potable water reaches
Purok 7, Parañaque
thru ‘bayanihan’
hrough the intervention of
the National Conciliation
and Mediation Board (NCMB),
management and union settled the
unresolved economic provisions in
the CBA, which earlier resulted in a
deadlock and compelled MWSA to
file a notice of strike last January.
Later reconsideration by both
parties, however, prevented the
protest action from proceeding.
Officials of the two parties formally
signed the CBA last February
22, 2010 at the Maynilad Head
Office. Among the provisions are
a one-time lump sum of P68,000,
salary increase of P1,500 in 2010
and another P1,500 in 2011, and
mid-year bonuses of P16,000 in
2010 and P17,000 in 2011 for the
company’s 240 supervisors.
In a statement, MWSA president
Bertha Estimo stressed that the CBA
is a reflection of mutual support
between the management and
employees. As a way of giving back
to the company, she challenged
all union members to compete
with themselves in order to attain
excellence at work.
Meanwhile, Maynilad president
Rogelio Singson reiterated that
management has always acted
in good faith when dealing with
MWSA. “Our actions have always
been on the premise that any
agreement on the compensation
package should be based on
financial prudence—one that we can
afford and sustain,” he said.
Singson said the financial factors
taken into account during the CBA
negotiations include the 2010 water
tariff adjustment of only 0.2% based
on the Consumer Price Index, the
significant capital investments in the
past three years that the company
has yet to recover, the adverse effect
of El Niño on operations, and the
additional CAPEX fund needed to
reduce Non-Revenue Water and
further improve service levels.
The residents also helped settle a rightof-way issue that threatened to shelve
the project. According to Parañaque BA
zone head Edgardo Dimapilis, nearby
Multinational Village initially refused to allow
a pipe to pass through the subdivision that
would connect Purok 7 to the 200-mm line
along Multinational Avenue.
Through ardent appeals of the residents
and the intervention of Parañaque
mayor Florencio Bernabe Jr., however,
Multinational Village eventually gave its nod
to the right-of-way.
Before the project, residents of Purok
7 had no choice but to rely on water
deliveries and deepwells for their daily
needs. Now, they enjoy potable water
flowing out of their taps.
“They also save as much as P1,700
a month because our water is more
affordable,” Dimapilis added.
Meanwhile, the residents’ assistance
allowed Maynilad to cut back on labor
costs and provide water to the area years
ahead of schedule.
With the success of this bayanihan project,
the Parañaque BA is looking to implement
a similar program in Castañeda Compound
and other adjacent communities in
Parañaque City.
Maynilad Water Services, Inc.
17
Column
News
INFLOW, OUTFLOW
We want to know what you think so we’re
giving you your own column.
How I am preparing for El Niño
By Mila Batilante
T
he coming of El Niño should not be taken for granted.
Due to this phenomenon, there is less rainfall and our
main water resource, the Angat Dam, is being depleted.
This means that we will experience water shortage if the
situation is not given immediate attention.
Water should not be wasted;
everyone should use it
economically. And this initiative
should start in our households.
Mila Batilante is
Corplan Specialist
in the Corporate
Planning Department.
Even without the threat of El
Niño, we have already been
conserving water in our own
home. The water used after
bathing and washing clothes
and dishes is used for flushing
the toilet, and cleaning the
garage and other parts of the
house. To save more water, we have also cut our laundry
schedule from three times a week to only once a week.
Although it is now a hot season, we limit the watering
of our plants to nighttime only. We don’t water in the
morning anymore so that we could use the water for other
more important purposes. In order to save more water
at home, we avoid leaks by turning off all the faucets
properly when not in use.
Conserving water during this time will help solve our
problem. As a responsible consumer, let us maximize the
use of water.
Likewise, to help Maynilad in its water supply
management effort, let us report leaks around our
community. In this way, we are not only giving a solution
to the El Niño problem but also adding value to the
company’s goal of protecting the environment.
Maynilad, Smart launch Text Tubig
Maynilad and Smart
Telecommunications Inc.
(Smart) recently launched an
infoboard service called Text
Tubig to enhance the information
dissemination initiatives of the
water company.
Text Tubig subscribers may pull
information from the infoboard,
such as water service advisories,
Business Area locations, application
18
requirements, and other useful
details. They can also send
feedback, complaints and requests
directly to Maynilad through SMS.
To avail of the service, SMART and
Talk ‘N Text subscribers can follow
these simple steps:
(L-R) Perry V. Bayani, Talk ‘N Text & Sales
& Bus. Dev’t. Group Head; Danilo J.
Mojica, Wireless Consumer Div. Head;
Manny V. Pangilinan, Smart Chairman;
Rogelio L. Singson, Maynilad President
and CEO; Isidro A. Consunji, Maynilad
Vice Chairman as they finalize the
partnership between Smart and Maynilad.
Step 1
Step 2
Step 3
Download MAYNILAD menu
by texting MAYNILAD to
4755
In order to receive regular
updates, you need to register.
To register: go to SMART
menu, select MAYNILAD, then
select Registration. Text in
your Business Area, Name,
Contract Account No. and Age
(press OK after entering each).
Once you receive
confirmation, text (Business
Area)<space>PUSH<space>
ON to 717TUBIG or 71788244
(Sample: TONDO: PUSH ON)
ripples March 2010
Maynilad sealed its partnership
with the United States Agency
for International Development
(USAID) and Rotary International
for a comprehensive program to
advance health and sanitation in
communities near Pasig River in
Paco and Sta. Ana, Manila and
Baesa, Quezon City. The two
international agencies, along
with local barangay officials,
also vowed to assist Maynilad
in the speedy completion of the
company’s sewerage projects in
these areas.
T
he partnership is in line with
Maynilad’s initiative to prioritize
sewerage and sanitation projects
that will benefit households and
establishments along the Pasig River
system. Through proper wastewater
collection, treatment and disposal,
the company can help reduce
pollution in the river, prevent the
outbreak of water-borne diseases,
and promote sanitation in the
communities.
Maynilad’s priority sewerage
projects include the Baesa Sewage
Treatment Plant and the Paco
Sewage Treatment Plant, which are
both scheduled to be constructed
T
ext Tubig is a web-based SMS
facility that has different
modules to address the information
needs of Maynilad customers.
Through this technology, Maynilad
can upload, manage and provide
customized data to its customers.
Maynilad partners with USAID,
Rotary International
Signing the Memorandum of Understanding are (seated by the table, from left)
Brgy. Baesa chairman Eduardo Juan, Maynilad president Rogelio L. Singson,
Rotary International District 3780 governor Dulce Coyukiat, and AECOM
International Development (implementer of USAID-funded Philippine Sanitation
Alliance program) Chief of Party Lisa Kircher Lumbao. Witnessing the signing of
agreement are other Maynilad, USAID, Rotary International and local government
officials led by QC vice mayor Herbert Bautista (standing sixth from left).
this year. Part of the extensive
San Juan River Basin Project,
the Baesa Plant can treat up to
390 cubic meters of wastewater
per day and serve around 3,000
people. Meanwhile, the Paco Plant
has a design capacity of 550 cubic
meters per day, which will enable
the company to serve around 500
families in addition to those who are
already connected to existing sewer
lines.
Maynilad Sewage Plant passes
IMS recertification
Maynilad’s Dagat-Dagatan Sewage and Septage
Treatment Plant (DDSSTP)—the first Integrated
Management System-certified facility of its kind in
the Asia Pacific Region—passed its recertification
for Quality Management System (ISO 9001:2008)
and Environment Management System (ISO
14001:2004) last March 1 and 2.
T
he facility is the first sewage and septage plant in the
Philippines to achieve the 2008 version of ISO 9001
standards. During the same recertification process,
Maynilad also passed its first surveillance audit for
Occupational Safety and Health Management System
(OHSAS 18001:2001).
The international certifications once again prove
Maynilad’s commitment to quality, environmental
protection, and occupational safety and health.
TUV SUD PSB Philippines, Inc. facilitated Maynilad’s
original certification. This time, Maynilad secured
the services of a different third party auditor—
Rheinland Philippines, Inc.—to test its systems against
international standards.
The Dagat-Dagatan Sewerage Plant has a 13 MLD
capacity—over three times more than its current load of
4 MLD.
Maynilad Water Services, Inc.
19
The Men and Women of Maynilad
Environmental Management
O
ur business and operations
are highly dependent on
the environment, and it is this
department’s job to ensure the
long-term protection of this key
asset. From organizing watershed
protection activities, to developing
partnerships with environmental
groups, to overseeing compliance for
ISO requirements, the Environmental
Management Department remains at
the forefront of initiatives dedicated to
nurturing our natural resources.
“The work is challenging since we
have to respond to issues and
concerns that will enhance our
environmental performance. We do
it not only for regulatory compliance
but out of our sincere desire to
protect the environment,” said
department head Frankie Arellano.
As the department that is alerted on
changing regulatory requirements,
their day-to-day activities are
(L-R) Cristina Talanay, Vilma Cembrano, Aden Manalo, Richard Garcia,
Enrique de Guzman, and Francisco Arellano.
The work is challenging since we have to respond to
issues and concerns that will enhance our environmental
performance. We do it not only for regulatory compliance
but out of our sincere desire to protect the environment.
dedicated to developing measures
for Maynilad to proactively cushion
such changes and deal with the
people mandated to implement these
requirements. “This is a real challenge
because you have to stretch not only
your technical capability but also your
social skills when dealing with the
different personalities of the regulatory
leaders and other groups that are
affected by our operations.”
Despite the huge demands, the
men and women of Environmental
Management all take pride in the
task of making Maynilad a truly green
company.
Richard Garcia
of EMD and
Fernando
Espineda
of Central
Laboratory
preparing
containers for
water samples to
be collected from
Manila Bay.
The Environmental Management team with other employees as they lead
a tree-planting activity at the Ipo Watershed.