Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson shared the experience of the provincial government in integrated water security planning at the 10th World Water Forum in Bali, Indonesia, Wednesday.
“This is to report how, through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), we have come up with a water security plan, and of course, the surface bulk water supply project is one of the end results of the study,” he told reporters here before his departure.
In Bali, Lacson spoke at the Fireside Talk, a recorded interview held at the World Bank booth, on the topic, “Cascading of the Philippine Sector Master Plan through Provincial Integrated Water Security Planning.”
The interview, hosted by Maria Angela Sotomayor, water sector manager of the World Bank, will be aired during and after the World Water Forum and in feature stories and media promotional items on the World Bank’s Water Global Practice media platforms.
Lacson, joined by Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz II, also met with USAID officials, including GlobalWater lead Nancy Eslick, Center for Water Security and Sanitation director Jeff Goldberg, and Philippines Safe Water Project chief of party Alma Porciuncula.
Last year, Negros Occidental launched the Provincial Integrated Water Security Plan for 2023 to 2030 in cooperation with the USAID Safe Water project team.
The plan aims to increase access to resilient water supply among water-stressed communities, improve water resource management to ensure sustainable supply and strengthen water sector governance.
Next month, the provincial government is ready to bid on the PHP1.2-billion Negros Occidental Bulk Water Supply Project, which involves the financing, engineering design, construction, operation, and maintenance of a bulk water supply system with a minimum capacity of 34.5 million liters per day to be sourced from the Imbang River and/or the Malogo River.
The supply of treated bulk water is for the six water service providers in the cities of Bacolod, Talisay, Silay, and Victorias, as well as the municipalities of EB Magalona and Manapla. (PNA)
Photo credit: Facebook/NegOcc.Gov
