Water refillers vow clean water for Baguio

BAGUIO CITY -- The local water refillers group marked last week its seventh year with a review of its records in corporate social responsibility and partnership with government agencies to maintain clean, safe and affordable water to the community.

               

“Profit should be secondary (to safe quality), as unpurified water may mean fund drain (to consumers who would need medical care as a result),” newly installed president,  Engr.  Florencio Cardenas told members of the Baguio Association of Purified and Mineral Water Refillers at their installation of officers last June 1.

City health officer, Dr. Florence Reyes who served as guest speaker  attributed the BAPMWR’s effectiveness in providing  clean and affordable water to its being “ one of the most organized water refillers associations in the Philippines”.

               

“Our water stations are part of our clean barangays,” she told the members also led by out-going president, lawyer Nellie Olairez  who now serves as ex-oficio member of the board after steering the group for the past seven years.

               

As reflected in Olairez’s report, the refillers had, over the years, supported environmental and humanitarian causes such as the fund drives of the Baguio Regreening Movement and the Red Cross, aside from delivery of 25,000 bottles of drinking water for various editions of the “Panagbenga” flower festival.

               

Other beneficiaries of the social fund, including pass-the-hat collection s from members, include the BomboRadyo bloodletting program, Cancer Volunteer Group, Northern Luzon Association for the Blind, members of the association and their kin for hospitalization and death benefits.

               

“Her imprint would be hard to duplicate,” Cardenas said of the leadership of Olairez who also initiated  activities to ensure the safety and purity of water being processed by refilling stations of BAPMWR members.

               

Among the quality standard activities institutionalized by the group are annual inspection of all water refilling stations in coordination with the Baguio Health Department and  publication of the results and annual water operator’s course conducted by the B HD’s sanitation division so refilling station owners could comply with provisions of the Sanitation Code of the Philippines.

               

The group has been a year-ender nominee of the Baguio Midland Courier in 2009 as advocate of safe and clean water. Other officers inducted by Engr. Candido de los Santos, head of the Sanitation Division of the BHD, were city councilor NicasioAliping – vice-president, Mila Obillo – secretary, LeonilaEndrano – assistant secretary, Molses Co – treasurer, TeresitaEstacio – asst. treasurer, PuritaJucutan – auditor, David Abad – public relations officer, Alejandro Agpes and Jose Dipasupil – business managers.

The board of trustees is composed of lawyer ZosimoAbratique, Estrella de Ayre, LuzvimindaOnia and Peter Saguilot.