The Moog Controls Corporation and Planet Water Foundation installed an AquaTower, a water tank and filtration system, at Benguet State University (BSU) Elementary Laboratory School (ELS) grounds on March 14, 2025. This initiative is the realization of the Memorandum of Agreement for a water tank project signed between BSU, Moog, and the Foundation on December 12, 2024.

The initiative aims to provide access to clean, safe drinking water, handwashing, and sanitation infrastructure among ELS pupils and the school community.

A turnover program was held at the ELS covered court on the same day attended by Moog Commercial Aircraft Senior Vice President and General Manager Mark Brooks, Moog Controls Corporations General Manager Allan Jamieson, other Moog officials and employees; Senior Manager Camille Quiambao and other Planet Water Foundation representatives; and BSU President Kenneth A. Laruan, along with BSU officials, ELS faculty members, and students.

Before the closing program, Planet Water Foundation and the Moog conducted community and student education activities, focusing on hygiene and the importance of clean water. A demonstration on how to operate and maintain the newly installed AquaTower was also conducted which was participated by the ELS faculty.

In their messages, Laruan and College of Teacher Education Dean Divina M. Yango expressed gratitude to Moog and the Foundation for the partnership and for selecting BSU ELS as one of their beneficiaries. They emphasized the impact of clean and safe water on the health and well-being of the ELS learners.

“We are happy at BSU and thankful to the Moog and Planet Water Foundation for choosing the ELS as one of your project sites,” Laruan expressed.

Jamieson and Brooks also emphasized Moog’s commitment to community support, expressing hope that the AquaTower would significantly improve access to safe drinking water. They also encouraged the students to pursue their academic and professional aspirations.

“We love to give back to the community, and that is why we are here,” said Brooks.

Quiambao also gave her message by asking first the students about their ambitions, which was eagerly responded to by the ELS learners.

“These kids have lots of hopes and dreams, so much potential but one of the barriers that keeps them from achieving them is the lack of clean and safe water. It is so difficult to learn when they are thirsty. It’s so hard for the teachers to deliver the lesson if the kids are absent because of water-borne illnesses. That is why our partnership with Moog and BSU is very important,” she said and shared water project initiatives of the Planet Water Foundation across the globe. She also emphasized that this project responds to the UN Sustainable Development Goal of providing clean and safe water.

Afterwards, Brooks and Laruan led the ribbon-cutting ceremony. The event also featured cultural dances performed by the BSU Kontad.//EBawayan