RDC VI to host Western Visayas water summit
The Regional Development Council VI is set to conduct a two-day Western Visayas Water Summit on December 1-2, 2009 to be held at the Sugarland Hotel, Bacolod City. It carries the theme: ‘Towards a More Effective and Efficient Management of the Region’s Water Resources.”
The first Water Summit to be conducted in the region, it will attempt to challenge the provinces and cities of Region VI to respond to and manage well the water needs of people, industries, and ecosystems. This is to pave the way for an integrated and holistic management of the region’s water resources considering the many and different, but interdependent uses of water brought about by the demands of its economy without compromising the sustainability of its vital ecosystems.
To provide valuable inputs/insights are resource persons from the Central Offices of the National Economic and Development Authority, National Water Resources Board, Local Water Utilities Administration, Department of Agriculture, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, and Department of Science and Technology. Mayor German P. Sarana of Bayawan City will likewise present their best practices in water resource management. Congressman Ignacio T. Arroyo of the 5th District of Negros Occidental and Chairman Prospero A. Pichay, Jr. of LWUA, together with the Regional Development Council, are the Summit’s sponsors.
The National Economic and Development Authority, headed by Director Ro-Ann A. Bacal, is providing the over-all Secretariat Support for the affair, and will be responsible for the post-Summit follow through activities.
The RDC VI Water Summit will focus on:
presenting and validating the status of the region’s water resources;
presenting the current/prospective trends in managing water resources;
showcasing best practices with regard to water resource management;
defining and agreeing on an integrated approach to manage water resources; and
identifying water-related issues and concerns and recommending an organizational framework for the proper management of water resources.
About 200 participants coming from selected regional line agencies, local government units, private sector/non-government organizations, the academe and selected water districts are expected to attend the Summit. (NEDA-Region VI)
