Cotabato City – Six provinces in the country including Maguindanao stand to benefit from a tripartite project the American government through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) initiated recently to provide residents of the recipient-provinces safe drinking water sources, citing a report that some “15.7 million Filipinos lack access” to quality water.
The US Embassy in Manila yesterday said USAID Mission Director Gloria Steele inked the enabling memorandum of understanding (MOU) on April 23 with officials of the partnering Coca-Cola Foundation Philippines, Inc. (CCFPI) and the Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP).
Under the MOU signed also by CCFPI Chairman Diego Granizo and Roberto Umali of the PBSP Board of Trustee, three parties will “jointly work towards groundwater replenishment, freshwater source expansion, and community water access projects in areas covered by the USAID’s Water Security for Resilient Economic Growth (Be Secure) Project, namely Leyte, Iloilo, Maguindanao, Misamis Oriental and Basilan.”
The MOU addresses the issues of water security and sustainability of water supply and will employ technologies that are simple, low-cost and low-maintenance. These technologies include groundwater infiltration wells, pavers for groundwater recharge, rainwater harvesting and storage, flood water diversion and storage, watershed protection and rehabilitation and others; and will be implemented from 2015-2017.
The US embassy, in a statement, said the MOU “addresses the issues of water security and sustainability of water supply and will employ technologies that are simple, low-cost and low-maintenance.”
It said such technologies include groundwater infiltration wells, pavers for groundwater recharge, rainwater harvesting and storage, flood water diversion and storage, watershed protection and rehabilitation and others; and will be implemented from 2015 to 2017.
It added: “A 2014 Millennium Development Goals (MDG) progress report shows that although the country surpassed MDG targets on safe drinking water, approximately 15.7 million Filipinos still lack access. In addition, water service providers struggle to keep pace with increased demand for water fueled by population growth and industry.”
“Both ground and surface water sources also face issues related to environmental degradation, contamination from untreated industrial and domestic waste water, and threat from climate change. A study conducted by the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture revealed that groundwater, a common source of water in cities, municipalities and rural areas in the Philippines may be depleted by the year 2050,” it said.
Director Steele said “the U.S. government recognizes that managing water in a sound and sustainable manner saves lives and advances development. USAID programs have a long history of using innovative advances in technology and creating partnerships with the private sector to increase water availability and quality. We are pleased to again partner with Coca-Cola to continue our shared commitment in the water sector.”
