Manila, July 14, 2006 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Asian Development Bank (ASX: ATB) has initiated in the Philippines a regional pilot project to ensure speedy delivery of piped in fresh water to urban areas using small-piped water networks (SPWN).
The project, established under a regional technical assistance grant approved last year for three countries, including also India and Viet Nam, aims to demonstrate that selected urban residents can connect to piped water supply in the space of less than a year.
The pilot projects are to be established in more than 1,000 households in Rizal Province, under a Manila Water Company Inc. (MWCI) concession, in Kabisig, Cainta; Sitio Batasin and Sitio Panghulo, Taytay; and Ibayo, San Mateo.
"The project is being undertaken in areas where water piped in by utilities is not available to consumers, who have to get their water from vendors at inflated costs," says Bindu Lohani, Director General of ADB's Regional and Sustainable Development Department.
"It is therefore addressing a core issue of how to provide piped water supply in expeditious manner, and on affordable terms. It is also, at a local level, supporting achievement of the Millennium Development Goal Target 10 of attaining sustainable access to safe drinking water."
The project will provide the new household connections at P12 per cubic meter of water - giving households a saving of more than P40 per cubic meter of water.
It includes constructing small-piped water networks, conducting surveys to determine the profile of water consumers and small scale water providers, setting up a registration system for small scale water provides, evaluating the pilot project implementation, and developing a tool kit to replicate the SPWN efforts.
"The project is promoting a cooperative effort in which city officials, water utilities, and local banks can work with small entrepreneurs to quickly bring piped water supply to the poor," adds Kallidaikurichi Easwaran Seetharam, ADB Principal Water Supply and Sanitation Specialist.
The Philippine pilot project was established with the recent signing of a memorandum of understanding by Mr. Lohani, and Antonio Aquino, President of MWCI.
"Providing water to low-income communities does not only deliver a vital service to the poor but also is a strategic and sound business solution," Mr. Aquino says. "It just goes to show that our social mission is perfectly congruent and aligned with our business objectives."
Contact
Graham Dwyer
Email: gdwyer@adb.org
Tel:+632 632 5253; +632 898 3413; +63 915 741 4363
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