(CNN Philippines) — The province of Iloilo is hosting the first Iloilo Water Summit where 90 representatives of community-based small water service providers (CBWSP) will gather for two days to look for long-term solutions to province’s lack of reliable water supply.
The 1st Iloilo Water Summit started on Tuesday (May 26) in Iloilo City with the theme “Tubig Kabuhi, Amligan, Tipigan para sa Tayoyun nga Kauswagan” (Water is Life, Protect, Conserve for Sustainable Development).
The summit is spearheaded by the Provincial Planning and Development Office (PPDO) in partnership with the United States Agency for International Development Be Secure Project.
Among the topics to be discussed are the status of fresh water resources in Iloilo, how to build a climate resilient water resources and facilities, sanitation, water potability and septage, regulations on water use, as well as the province’s health and sanitation profile and the challenges and aspirations for the project.
This summit is part of Governor Arthur Defensor Sr.’s Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Project (RWSP) that aims to providing safe and adequate water supply to all, especially in secluded or remote communities.
RWSP provides for the construction of Level II and Level III water systems and organization of CBWSPs that are responsible of managing, operating and sustaining the project.
In a report from PPDO, the two-day summit will allow them to strengthen the CBWSPs as a group and to enlighten them on the latest issuances, policies, issues, and concern on water as non-renewable resource.
To date, there are 207 communities that are recipients of the project, benefiting 11,000 households, 21 elementary schools, eight high schools, two day care centers, two camping sites, two multipurpose halls and a district hospital in Iloilo.
