MPIC Boosts Livelihood for Fisherfolk Communities in Muntinlupa

Metro Manila, Philippines, 11th October 2022 – Metro Pacific Investments Corporation (MPIC), the country’s leading infrastructure investments firm, supported the livelihood of around 800 members of the City Fisheries Aquatic Resource Management Council (CFARMC) by providing fishing boats or bancas to eight barangays in Muntinlupa.

In a ceremonial turnover last October 11, MPIC together with Huawei Philippines, Maynilad Water Services Inc. (Maynilad), the Laguna Lake Development Authority (LLDA), and the City Government of Muntinlupa, entrusted eight bancas to barangays Sucat, Buli, Alabang, Cupang, Bayanan, Putatan, Poblacion, and Tunasan. Maynilad also turned over three solar paddle wheels aerator water treatment system that improves the quality of water in rivers and lakes, to the City’s Lake Management Office.

Beyond utilizing the boats to bolster the livelihoods of these fisherfolk, they will likewise be used to conduct clean-up drives in Laguna Lake, aligned with MPIC, Maynilad, and LLDA’s Laguna de Bay Welfare Awareness advocacy (LAWA) of protecting Laguna de Bay.

“Fishing is one of the oldest, most basic, and most important forms of livelihood. We see it as an integral part of our company’s mission to uplift fisherfolk communities, who help supply our communities and our country with adequate food,” says MPIC Chairman, President, and CEO Manuel V. Pangilinan.

The LAWA Initiative

Under Gabay Kalikasan, one of the Group’s six Gabay Advocacies for a Sustainable Philippines, LAWA highlights the critical role that the Laguna Lake plays with respect to the social and economic development of the region. It consolidates the group’s efforts to promote awareness and establish 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”.

Supporting this directive entails providing the needed support to the communities surrounding Laguna Lake, most of whom rely heavily on fishing as their primary source of livelihood and income. With their dependence on the lake comes the unavoidable effects on the area’s natural resources.

“MPIC’s donation of bancas not only enables our community folk to sustain their existing livelihoods, but also enforces a sense of responsibility to care for the Lake that they depend on daily,” says Muntinlupa City Mayor Hon. Rozzano Rufino “Ruffy” Biazon. 

Given the importance of the lake to Metro Manila’s ecosystem, MPIC, LLDA, and its partners, recognized the need for collaborative efforts between the public and private sectors for the sustainable development of the Laguna Lake for the benefit of present and future generations.

“Our unwavering commitment to build a more resilient and sustainable future for our people and our planet is the driving force behind our efforts,” says MPIC Chief Finance, Risk, and Sustainability Officer Chaye Cabal-Revilla. “We will be relentless in our pursuit to protect Laguna de Bay to sustain our present and future generations.”

Initial priority areas to be addressed by the LAWA initiative include the communication, education, and public awareness; promotion of wastewater management systems to help address the lake’s algal bloom problem; organization of clean-up drives for the tributaries; livelihood support and development; 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.

The livelihood support program under the LAWA initiative emphasizes MPIC’s role as the largest catalyst for a Sustainable Philippines, aimed to improve the lives in the country through providing essential services and mobilizing advocacies that uplift the quality of life of all Filipinos.

This is also aligned with MPIC’s efforts to contribute to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), particularly SDG 6 Clean Water and Sanitation, 8 Decent Work and Economic Growth, 11 Sustainable Cities and Communities, 13 Climate Action, 14 Life Below Water, and 15 Life on Land.

About MPIC

MPIC is a leading infrastructure holding company with a diverse set of assets held through our operating companies. Through acquisitions and strategic partnerships, we seek to create value by upgrading infrastructure, improving operational efficiency, increasing customer coverage and working closely with regulators and other partners in government.

Through our operating companies, we strive to deliver high quality and affordable services for customers, provide safe workplaces and merit-based opportunities for employees and generate reasonable returns for business partners and investors. Our operating companies are making a difference to the lives of millions of Filipinos, powering commerce and households, connecting people and places, delivering clean and safe water, and making world-class standards of healthcare available to all.

MPIC’s operating companies include Manila Electric Company, Maynilad Water Services, Inc., MetroPac Water Investments Corporation, Metro Pacific Tollways Corporation, Metro Pacific Hospital Holdings Inc., Light Rail Manila Corporation and mWell.

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For further information, please contact:

Melody del Rosario

VP – Public Relations and Corporate Communications, MPIC

09189635639