It Takes a Village to Raise a Batang Matatag: How Safe Water and Gut Health Are Building Stronger Futures

Erceflora & Manila Water Foundation Expand Batang Matatag | Mix of Everything

Marking its fifth year, the Batang Matatag child health initiative—led by Erceflora in partnership with the Manila Water Foundation (MWF), Department of Education (DepEd), and the Pasig City Government—is expanding across 44 public schools in Pasig City.

Originally focused on essential Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) infrastructure, the initiative has broadened its scope to encompass holistic child health, gut health education, and everyday hygiene habits. Having grown from reaching 9,494 students in 2023 to 150,000 students and healthcare professionals in 2026, the program reinforces the vital role of clean water and proper nutrition in childhood development and school attendance.

Program Highlights & Key Components

• WASH Infrastructure: Installs refrigerated drinking water fountains and multi-faucet hygiene stations across participating schools.
• Gut Health & Hygiene Education: Delivers educational lectures focusing on gut health, proper handwashing, toothbrushing, and sanitation.
• Student Hygiene Role Models: Enlists student leaders through campus WASH sessions to act as role models and promote good hygiene practices among their peers.
• Key School Rollouts: Key Pasig campuses involved include De Castro Elementary School, Nagpayong High School, Pinagbuhatan High School, Manggahan High School, and San Miguel Elementary School.

“Batang Matatag has always been about creating healthier environments where children can grow and thrive. As we enter our fifth year, we are looking beyond immediate needs to help communities build the knowledge and habits that can support children’s health in the long term.” — Rica Mateo, Erceflora ASEA Brand Zone Lead

“Building healthier learning environments cannot be done by one organization alone. When these efforts come together, we can give our learners the healthy and conducive environment they need to stay in school, stay well, and learn better.” — Reginald Andal, Executive Director of Manila Water Foundation

Looking ahead to its sixth year, Erceflora plans to expand the Batang Matatag initiative beyond Luzon and BARMM to reach more communities and help reduce preventable childhood illnesses such as diarrhea.