From top left: MWSS Corporate Office Acting Deputy Administrator for Engineering and Technical Operations Ryan James Ayson, MWSS Chief Regulator Patrick Ty, Antipolo City Environment and Waste Management Office OIC Rommel Daquioag, DepEd Rizal Education Program Supervisor for School Governance and Operations Marlon Marquez, Manila Water Chief Operating Officer Arnold Mortera, and DepEd Antipolo Assistant Schools Division Superintendent Dr. Rodrigo Rodriguez during the ceremonial signing of the Memorandum of Agreement, which formalizes the partnership to expand the Salin – Lakbayan Para sa mga Guro Program in Antipolo City and Rizal Province.
Manila Water Company formalized its partnership with the Department of Education (DepEd) Division of Antipolo City and the Department of Education Division of Rizal through the ceremonial signing of a Memorandum of Agreement to expand the Salin – Lakbayan Para sa mga Guro Program in Antipolo City and across Rizal Province. The activity was held in line with the observance of World Water Day, underscoring the shared commitment of the water and education sectors to water stewardship and sustainability.
The agreement paves the way for continued collaboration between Manila Water and the local education sector to promote water stewardship, environmental protection, and sustainability through teachers and educators. Under the Salin program, public school teachers participate in educational and experiential learning activities, including guided tours of Manila Water’s water and wastewater treatment facilities, as well as information, education, and communication sessions that deepen their understanding of responsible water and wastewater management.
Anchored on this year’s World Water Day theme, Water and Gender: Where water flows, equality grows, the expanded Salin program underscores the vital role of educators in promoting inclusive, informed, and responsible water and sanitation practices in schools and communities.
With the new agreement, Salin will now reach more public school teachers in Antipolo City and the Province of Rizal, supporting their crucial role as facilitators of environmental awareness among students and within their communities.
The expansion builds on the successful implementation of the Salin program in the East Zone of Metro Manila. Since its launch in 2023, the program has empowered over 430 educators covering 141 public schools.
The signing ceremony was attended by key officials from the water and education sectors, including Manila Water Chief Operating Officer for the East Zone Arnold Mortera, Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) Chief Regulator Patrick Lester N. Ty, and MWSS Corporate Office Acting Deputy Administrator for the Engineering and Technical Operations Group Ryan James Ayson.
“When we give teachers—many of whom are women—the tools and knowledge they need, we are building more informed communities, more empowered classrooms, and more equal futures,” Mortera said, echoing this year’s World Water Day theme.
“The MWSS Regulatory Office commends Manila Water and its partners for championing the Salin initiative and for going beyond what is expected in advancing both education and responsible water management,” Ty said.
Representing DepEd were Antipolo City Assistant Schools Division Superintendent Dr. Rodrigo Rodriguez and Rizal Education Program Supervisor for School Governance and Operations Marlon Marquez.
“May this moment serve not just as a formal partnership but as a shared commitment—a commitment to continue creating opportunities for our teachers, a commitment to make learning more meaningful for our learners, and a commitment to build a generation that values not only knowledge, but responsibility,” Rodriguez said.
“We extend our gratitude to Manila Water for this partnership and for entrusting our teachers as key agents of change. Together, let us continue to inspire action, promote sustainable practices, and help ensure that future generations inherit a world where clean and safe water is accessible to all,” Marquez said.
Also present from the local government unit was Antipolo City Environment and Waste Management Office Officer-in-Charge Rommel Daquioag.
The expansion builds on the successful implementation of the Salin program in the East Zone of Metro Manila. Since its launch in 2023, the program has empowered over 430 public school educators, equipping them with practical knowledge on water and wastewater processes, sanitation, and environmental protection, while strengthening their role as advocates of responsible water use in schools and communities.
The agreement will take effect for four years, reinforcing Manila Water’s commitment to partnerships with the education sector that strengthen environmental information and communication efforts and support sustainable water management across its service areas.
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