THE US government is supporting a P869-million project that will provide water security in Palawan, Negros Occidental and Sarangani.
The US Agency for International Development (USAID) will provide technical assistance for the Safe Water project in those areas.
“The US government is proud to support the efforts of Palawan, Negros Occidental and Sarangani to achieve water security,” USAID Acting Mission Director Patrick Wesner said in a statement Thursday.
“USAID will work with partners to maximize the use of data and sound analytics to guide informed decision making, identify lasting solutions, and prioritize investments.”
The project hopes to increase access to water and sanitation services, improve water resource management and governance. It will also capacitate local communities in working towards the objective of delivering clean drinking water.
The memorandum of understanding was signed by Mr. Wesner, National Economic and Development Authority Assistant Director General Roderick M. Planta, Palawan Governor Jose Chaves Alvarez, Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose V. Lacson and Sarangani Governor Steve Chiongbian Solon.
The project will also involve USAID’s implementing partner DAI Global LLC as well as the private sector and non-government organizations, such as the Philippine Business for Social Progress, Water.org, Mahintana Foundation, Inc., Conrado and Ladislawa Alcantara Foundation, Inc., and the Foundation for a Sustainable Society, Inc.
USAID last month also provided some P170 million worth of financial aid to various communities to help them deal with natural disasters, such as earthquakes, typhoons and floods. These communities were located in Metro Manila, Northern Samar, and Maguindanao.
The US government has extended more than P1 billion in aid to help address the impact of the coronavirus pandemic. — Charmaine A. Tadalan