Manila Water Brings Clean Water to 5,000 Flood Evacuees

When severe monsoon rains turned streets into rivers across Central Luzon, more than 21,000 families found themselves sheltering in evacuation centers without access to safe water.

Within days, Manila Water Foundation activated its Agapay: WASH in Emergencies program to deliver what matters most during disasters: clean drinking water and hygiene supplies. The foundation partnered with Clark Water and local governments to reach over 5,000 people displaced by flooding.

In the hard-hit Municipality of San Simon, 600 five-gallon containers of potable water reached evacuees across five barangays. The foundation also distributed 200 hygiene kits containing soap, shampoo, toothpaste, toothbrushes, and feminine hygiene products donated by PHILUSA Corporation.

"We recognize that access to clean water and proper sanitation becomes even more critical during emergencies," said Reginald Andal, Executive Director of Manila Water Foundation. The initiative helped protect vulnerable groups like children and senior citizens from waterborne illnesses at a time when disease spreads quickly in crowded evacuation centers.

Across Manila's East Zone, the foundation delivered another 450 five-gallon containers to evacuation centers in Quezon City, Taguig-Pateros, and Rizal, supporting over 2,088 evacuees. Local government officials managing the shelters thanked Manila Water for the timely support, noting how safe drinking water brought comfort to frightened families.

The Ripple Effect

The foundation's rapid response shows how corporate partnerships with local governments can save lives during natural disasters. By maintaining pre-positioned supplies and trained teams, Manila Water Foundation can mobilize within hours instead of days.

As floodwaters recede, the foundation plans to deliver another 1,750 gallons of drinking water to Barangay San Jose in Rodriguez, Rizal, reaching 2,466 more residents. Their continued presence gives recovering families hope that help hasn't disappeared just because the emergency fades from headlines.

Clean water prevents disease outbreaks that often claim more lives than the disaster itself, turning a crisis response into a health protection mission that saves children and seniors first.