Manila Water celebrated the 13th anniversary of its flagship environmental advocacy program, Toka-Toka, reaffirming its commitment to sustainable sanitation and community partnership. The event, held at Elements Eton Centris in Quezon City, gathered key government agencies, local leaders, and partners to recognize outstanding barangays that champion environmental protection and proper wastewater management.
Since its launch in 2012, Toka-Toka has been the only advocacy in the Philippines dedicated to promoting proper wastewater practices and environmental stewardship. Tokasangga, now on its second year, serves as the official awarding event of the program, where Manila Water recognizes barangay desludging champions and other environmental achievers. Anchored on the theme “Bayanihan para sa Malinis na Tubig at Sanitasyon,” this year’s celebration highlighted the collective efforts of communities and partners in advancing desludging services and sanitation awareness across the East Zone.
Sixteen barangays were hailed as Desludging Achievers, while 74 barangays received citations for their active participation in environmental initiatives, underscoring the growing impact of collaborative action in protecting waterways and public health.
“Local community leaders share the pulse of our customers and the community that they serve. This [Tokasangga] is just a small way of showing our appreciation for all that you do—for us, with us, for your communities, and for yourselves,” Manila Water President and CEO Jocot de Dios said during his welcome remarks.
The event also featured messages from representatives of key agencies, including the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS), and Local Government Units (LGUs), emphasizing the importance of shared responsibility in environmental protection.
“The MWSS is truly privileged to have Manila Water as a partner in fulfilling its water and sewerage mandates. The MWSS is even more privileged to have you, our communities [Kasangga], as you contribute to the improvement of sewerage and sanitation services,” MWSS Board of Trustees Chairman Vega said in his message.
“I would like to extend our heartfelt congratulations to Manila Water for the outstanding success of your flagship environmental advocacy—Toka-Toka. We are also pleased of our customers who embody their Toka joining us as active partners alongside our concessionaires towards waterway rehabilitation and watershed protection,” MWSS Chief Regulator Patrick Ty said in his speech.
“Cleaning and rehabilitating our waterways, improving our drainage system, and enforcing related water regulations are all incorporated in our mandate. However, we could not do this alone. As the concern of wastewater sanitation and environmental protection are not just matters of engineering concerns nor work designated only to the government—it is a community concern and a shared responsibility,” MMDA Planning Office Director Sheila shared, representing MMDA Chairman Romando Artes.
“To our Kasangga—our operational partners—your feedback, coordination, and compliance at the local level help prevent downstream incidents and significantly reduce the cost of response for everyone involved,“ Quezon City’s Climate Change and Environment Sustainability Assistant Department Head Vincent Vinarao said.
The awarding ceremony served as the highlight of the program, honoring barangays that demonstrated exemplary performance in implementing desludging programs and promoting proper waste disposal practices. These efforts contribute significantly to reducing pollution in waterways and improving community health.
As Manila Water continues to expand its sewerage and sanitation services, Toka-Toka remains a vital platform for education and collaboration, inspiring communities to take their “toka” or share in caring for the environment
