ADB Review Mission Impressed with ICLEI SEA's Work on Water Governance
Dutch Evaluators visited ICLEI-SEA and the City of Baguio, Philippines (16-18 January 2006) to assess the recently-concluded Pilot Demonstration Activity (PDA) on water governance which was co-financed by the Asian Development Bank. The primary purpose of the Review Mission was to assess the impacts of the Cooperation Fund for the Water Sector at the ADB. The Government of The Netherlands provided US$18M to support ADB’s Water Policy, where the Baguio PDA falls under.
The Review Mission was impressed with the dedication and commitment that was shown by ICLEI and all major stakeholders (including the Mayor, municipal staff, the SWIM Technical working group and the district water authority) in the Baguio PDA.
“The Mission was in the opinion that this PDA is one of the most innovative activities they have observed and they would like to see that this will not be just a one-time activity, but that this process will continue and eventually be picked up by ADB and other key-players in the business of water resources management and institutional development for sustainable water governance.“ -- Bert van Ommen, PDA Manager, Asian Development Bank
Further details about the SWIM can be viewed in ICLEI Southeast Asia’s Newsletter July-December 2005 issue.
The Review Mission was impressed with the dedication and commitment that was shown by ICLEI and all major stakeholders (including the Mayor, municipal staff, the SWIM Technical working group and the district water authority) in the Baguio PDA.
“The Mission was in the opinion that this PDA is one of the most innovative activities they have observed and they would like to see that this will not be just a one-time activity, but that this process will continue and eventually be picked up by ADB and other key-players in the business of water resources management and institutional development for sustainable water governance.“ -- Bert van Ommen, PDA Manager, Asian Development Bank
Further details about the SWIM can be viewed in ICLEI Southeast Asia’s Newsletter July-December 2005 issue.
Bohol Province, Philippines Gears up for Water ecoBUDGET
The Provincial Local Implementation ecoBUDGET Core Team of Bohol Province (ICLEI Member) is gearing up for the replication and adaptation of the ecoBUDGET at the provincial level. With a much wider scope of oversight governance functions over environmental assets in the province that encompass forty-two municipalities, Bohol decided to focus on one key environmental resource—water. Groundwork activities will kick off on the second quarter of 2006.
The pilot demonstration area of Tubigon Municipality, on the other hand, has succeeded in preparing a workprogram to start Step 5 of the ecoBUDGET process—Measures Management. The Municipal Implementation Team gathered on February 10, 2006 at the provincial planning and development office to examine the responsiveness of its annual workprogram to the ratified masterbudget. The team targets to complete the baseline information within the first quarter, and start the mobilization of stakeholders to implement the measures.
A list of technical assistance needs was drawn up in time for the technical field visit of experts from Vaxjo, Sweden. Key areas are the following: (a) reducing non-revenue water from systems loss; (b) community-based forestry/watershed management; and (c) sustainable livelihood and employment for riverbank sand and gravel extractors.
The pilot demonstration area of Tubigon Municipality, on the other hand, has succeeded in preparing a workprogram to start Step 5 of the ecoBUDGET process—Measures Management. The Municipal Implementation Team gathered on February 10, 2006 at the provincial planning and development office to examine the responsiveness of its annual workprogram to the ratified masterbudget. The team targets to complete the baseline information within the first quarter, and start the mobilization of stakeholders to implement the measures.
A list of technical assistance needs was drawn up in time for the technical field visit of experts from Vaxjo, Sweden. Key areas are the following: (a) reducing non-revenue water from systems loss; (b) community-based forestry/watershed management; and (c) sustainable livelihood and employment for riverbank sand and gravel extractors.
