Wanted: Clean water for life

MANILA, Philippines - Aquabest and its mother company GQWEST Inc. joined the world in celebrating and working towards the ideals of World Water Day (WWD).

Established in 2005 with the advocacy of “water for life,” WWD is a decade-long initiative of the United Nations to ensure universal access to safe and clean water. From 2005 to 2015, the UN is highlighting the magnitude of the problem as well as bringing all stakeholders together to apply solutions that work. By giving everyone the right to clean water, it is hoped that one of the root causes of poverty and disease can be addressed.

Carson Tan, CEO of GQWEST Inc., says being the leading player in the water franchising industry, the company is aware of the significance and the scale of the problem. “When we started in the 1990s, the lack of clean and potable drinking water was a major problem and a significant contributor to the growth of the water refilling industry. Since then, the situation has drastically improved, but 58 percent of our water remains contaminated. This ultimately means that millions of Filipinos still have to suffer from the diseases and problems posed by a lack of clean water. “

To address this problem, Aquabest has come up with measures to alleviate it and improve access to clean water. First is GQWEST’s thrust of introducing various brands catering to specific markets and offering clean and affordable water. The company is also involved in industry groups like the WQAP that aims to improve access to quality drinking water. It has also tied up with groups like Haribon to help preserve and expand our watersheds, which provide the bulk of our drinking water.

 “We need to be proactive and be part of the solution,” Tan.

Tan adds that Aquabest is committed to championing the ideals of WWD and is seeking more ways to bring fresh and clean water to everyone.