Metro Pacific Investments Corporation (MPIC) and Maynilad Water Services, Inc. (Maynilad), together with other companies in the MVP group, signed a Memorandum of Cooperation (MOC) with the Laguna Lake Development Authority (LLDA) to jointly protect the Laguna Lake and its surrounding provinces, cities, and towns.
This cooperation is solidified through the Laguna de Bay Welfare Awareness or LAWA program spearheaded by MPIC under its Gabay Kalikasan advocacy and stresses the critical role that the Laguna Lake plays with respect to the social and economic development of the region. LAWA aims to consolidate the group’s efforts in promoting awareness and establishing various programs in line with LLDA’s mandate to “transform Laguna Lake into a vibrant economic zone showcasing ecotourism by addressing the negative impact of watershed destruction, land conversion and pollution”.
The Laguna de Bay Region covers 77 tributaries and is endowed with rich natural resources. Laguna Lake alone, is home to a variety of organisms that comprise its biodiversity pool. Of note are the 31 species of fishes belonging to 16 families and 19 genera. Other organisms thriving in the lake include different species of mollusks, crustaceans, and birds that feed on the lake’s resources. In addition to this, it is also a vital water source that is used for irrigation, hydroelectric power generation, as a transport route, a venue for recreation, livelihood, and domestic water supply.
Given the importance of the lake to Metro Manila’s ecosystem, MPIC and LLDA both recognize the need for collaborative efforts and partnerships between the public and private sectors for the sustainable development of the Laguna Lake for the benefit of present and future generations.
“Protection of the environment is not just the government’s responsibility, it’s also the private sector’s responsibility to do their part to help,” said MPIC Chairman Manuel V. Pangilinan. “Through this LAWA Initiative, we wish to reiterate the group’s support, particularly Metro Pacific, to LLDA and their efforts in protecting Laguna Lake from the many factors that could cause its demise.”
To formalize this partnership, a virtual signing event was held on August 23 and was attended by key representatives from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, LLDA and the MVP Group.
MPIC President and Chief Executive Officer Jose Ma. K. Lim said “Shortly after we took over Maynilad in 2007, we already saw the importance of Laguna de Bay as a source of domestic water supply for Metro Manila and its environ.This collaboration will allow the MVP group to align with LLDA and consolidate its initiatives into a more strategic and coordinated action plan for the benefit of the lake, its tributaries and its communities.”
DENR Undersecretary Rodolfo C. Garcia highlighted in his message that “The DENR welcomes this MOC that ensures the usefulness of this lake and its watershed for future generations.”
Initial priority areas include the promotion of waste water management systems to help address the lake’s algal bloom problem, organization of clean-up drives for the tributaries, and the establishment of programs to hamper the proliferation of water hyacinths, the most damaging aquatic plant worldwide, currently covering approximately 20% of Laguna de Bay.
“Ecosystems such as Laguna de Bay support all life on Earth. The healthier our ecosystems are, the healthier our planet and all of us will be,” said Chaye A. Cabal-Revilla, MPIC Chief Finance, Risk and Sustainability Officer. “LAWA will be one of our anchor programs under Gabay Kalikasan because we strongly believe in LLDA’s strategic objectives.”
Other MPIC Group Companies supporting this initiative include MetroPac Water Investments Corporation, Meralco Powergen Corporation and Global Business Power Corporation.
