As Metro Manila prepares for the return of face-to-face classes, school heads are left with a problem: how can we meet the Department of Education (DepEd)’s minimum hand hygiene protocols when we lack the handwashing facilities? Procter & Gamble (P&G)’s Safeguard, in partnership with Manila Water Foundation (MWF), addressed this by donating Php 70 million to build handwashing facilities in all 285 schools that do not meet the DepEd Wash in Schools (WinS) hand hygiene ratings. Safeguard and MWF have already constructed 82 handwashing facilities in schools to date, and this program will accelerate the number to 332 schools nationwide by the end of the year.
By doing so, these public schools will be meeting DepEd’s minimum star rating inWinS Program, enabling the schools to apply for reopening. According to P&G Communications Director Anna Legarda-Locsin, this partnership with DepEd and MWF encourages students and teachers to “practice good hygiene habits that will protect them from disease-causing germs and viruses while they are in school.”
When asked how the SAFE Wash in Schools initiative align with Safeguard Philippines’ goals, the brand’s Communications Leader, Jeune San Juan, expresses that “by safeguarding the everyday health and hygiene of our children and educators as well, we are also safeguarding the future of the nation. By enabling schools to reopen with handwashing facilities, that is only just the first step we are taking in building safe habits for the future of our kids.”
Don Galo Elementary School Head Mylene Catana expressed how their school is currently at a zero-star rating but with the help of the SAFE Wash in School program, she is certain that pretty soon they will achieve a two or three-star rating.
Jose Victor Emmanuel de Dios, the CEO of Manila Water Company and founder of Manila Water Foundation, expressed his thanks for this initiative led by P&G. “On behalf of the Board of Trustees of the Manila Water Foundation, we would like to express our deepest gratitude to P&G Philippines, led by their president Mr. Raffy Fajardo for entrusting Manila Water Foundation with the #SafeWashInSchools project.”
