MANILA – For the first time, the Philippines will host the Asia Water Council (AWC) conference in Makati City on March 14-15 this year.
Reynaldo V. Velasco, administrator of the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS), said some 200 foreign delegates are expected to attend the two-day confab to be held at Makati Diamond Residences.
Velasco, a member of AWC Board of Council (BoC) currently headed by K-Water president Hak Soo Lee, said the conference will coincide with the holding of AWC’s 8th and 9th BoC meetings, 3rd General Assembly, and elections.
Previous AWC BoC meetings were held in Bali, Indonesia; Singapore; Beijing, China; Bangkok, Thailand; and in the cities of Andong, Gyeongju, and Daejeon in South Korea.
“It is an honor for us to be hosting this event at a time when our government is vigorously undertaking the ‘Build, Build, Build’ program that includes water infrastructure and the rehabilitation of Manila Bay,” Velasco said in an e-mail to the Philippine News Agency on Sunday.
“The country’s hosting of the event will bring in member organizations involved in the water sector industry giving them the opportunity to explore areas where cooperation with MWSS and its concessionaires can be established,” he added.
The event will be hosted by MWSS together with its concessionaires Manila Water, Maynilad and Luzon Clean Water Development Corporation (LCWDC).
Velasco also said all three concessionaires fully support the upcoming AWC conference, considered as the biggest international water conference.
The goal of the AWC is to provide safe water and sanitation facilities as enunciated by the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
“Through the improvement of water supply and distribution, and continuous improvement in our wastewater facilities, our efforts have contributed to bringing about a better life for our customers,” Maynilad president and chief executive officer Ramoncito Fernandez said.
On the other hand, Manila Water president and CEO Ferdinand dela Cruz, said the conference will be an opportunity to strengthen collaboration between government and the private sector.
“Our experience and track record demonstrate the positive results that arise from the productive partnership of government and the private sector,” dela Cruz pointed out.
Meanwhile, Edgar Dona of LCWDC said the conference “will allow us to interact with other organizations engaged in the water industry sector”.
AWC’s mission is to address water usage, natural environment protection, and natural hazard mitigation as it aims to “encourage mutual growth and sustainable development by involving the stakeholders in water through building a cooperative tie with the leading world water organizations”.
Its strategy is geared towards the attainment of the SDGs and adopted as the blueprint to a more sustainable future for all, to address challenges of poverty, inequality, climate, environmental degradation, prosperity, and peace and justice.
The AWC will provide a platform for the establishment of a cooperative network to address water challenges in Asia and adopt of Smart Water Management Initiative.
The Council boasts of over 100 organizations as members, including international organizations and non-government organizations, the World Bank, and the Asian Development Bank.
Members are classified by type: governments, multilateral development banks and export credit agencies, public organizations, enterprises, academe and research organizations, and international organizations and civil society.
MWSS concessionaires Manila Water, Maynilad and LCWDC are members of the AWC.
The BoC is composed of 25 Board Organizations.
Among the government and private organizations represented in the BoC include Asian Institute of Technology, Daegu Metropolitan City, Food and Agriculture Organization, Global Institute for Water, Environment and Health, Global Water Partnership Central Asia and Caucasus, Indonesia Water Institute, Indonesian Association of Hydraulic Engineers, K-Water, Korea International Cooperation Agency, Korea Water Forum, China Institute of Water Resources and Hydropower Research, @qua-Smart ICT for Water, Tokyo City University, Ministry of Energy & Mines of Laos, Ministry of Water Resources & Meteorology of Cambodia, Ministry Water Services Regulatory of Mongolia, and Tropical Marine Science Institute-National University of Singapore. (PNA)
