Waterlinks Forum 2014:

New Agreement Targets More Accessible Urban Water Services in Asia-Pacific

Manila, August 13, 2014- A new agreement signed this week at a gathering of public and private sector water experts will make it easier to expand partnerships for better water and wastewater management, benefiting tens of thousands of citizens in cities throughout Asia and the Pacific.

Signed as the WaterLinks Forum by the United States Agency for International Development ( USAID), Waterlinks , and the WaterLinks Alliance, including Miya Philippines Inc., ( Miya), Borouge Pte Ltd  (Borouge) , and the Indonesia Water Supply Association (PERPAMSI) , the memorandum of understanding ( MOU) sets out conditions to help improve urban water supply and sanitation services of at least 220,000 people in the region.

" The United States Government is committed to address the water crisis, " said Reed  Aeschliman, the Deputy Mission Director of the U.S Agency for International Development ( USAID) in the Philippines . " We value continued cooperation with regional development partners as well as local partners. This partnership will greatly improve vital water services and access for people living in cities that will lead to a higher quality life".

The MOU also helps water services providers to become more adaptive and resilient to potential impacts caused by climate change. Each of the MOU parties brings specific experience , technology , methodologies , and resources to promote partnerships in Asia.

This week's forum , hosted by WaterLinks ,with support from USAID and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) , brought together over 200 water service providers, practitioners and private sector and development partners from across Asia , the Pacific, Australia and the United States to discuss recent developments in solving urban water and wastewater inefficiencies and effective water operators partnerships. Participants learned about water loss reduction, wastewater management and reuse,water quality management and climate change resilience. Forum participants gained practical know-how to address urban water supply and wastewater management challenges and discovered the benefits of peer to peer learning and innovative technology applications through the partnerships.

WaterLink Alliance , a two -year public-private sector initiative supported by USAID , helps develop
partnerships that enable experienced water operator and other private sector partners to help less experienced water operator partners increase water system efficiencies that enhance and expand access to urban water and sanitation services. WaterLinks Alliance will work in collaboration with WaterLinks , ADB, UN-Habitat Global Water Partnership Alliance,Borouge Pte.Ltd., Miya Water Services and the Indonesia Water Supply Association.

WaterLinks is collaborating with Borouge and Malaysia's Ranhill Water Services to improve the water supply delivery system of the Denpasar Water Supply Company in Bali, Indonesia. Borouge is supplying over 2000 meter polyethylene pipes recognized for their durability and reliability against corrosion and leakage. Ranhil also offers practical training advisory services for Denpasar Water to reduce its water losses , thus building its climate resilience while improving water supply reliability.

SAGOT KITA BAYAN

LAUNCHING CEREMONIES

AUG.9, 2014 8:00-12:00 AM

KALAYAAN HALL CLUB FILIPINO GREENHILLS SAN JUAN CITY ,PHILIPPINES 

Sagot kita Bayan , a new multisectoral advocacy movement have just unveil today at Kalayaan Hall Club Filipino Greenhills San Juan City , Philippines headed by former Senator Atty. Jose D. Lina Jr.

Guided by the three tenets of virtue : Christ Centered , Competent, Compassionate to be embody by those who are prospecting to be on the fore front of private , public leadership.

Known for being voted as the youngest senator after the post EDSA electoral government ( Mdm. Corazon C. Aquino), just like former Senator Binigno Aquino II under the reconstituted 1935 Philippine constitution , Mr. Lina considered the first of its kind to be voted as the youngest Senator in the era of the newly reconstituted 1987 Philippine Constitution .

His achievement on his public service as law maker was the passing of the Lina Law known as the informal settlers and Anti hazing law.

Being a governor of his Laguna provincial town, he was one hailed as the governor who happened to save the highest mark in history . Making the town of Laguna as one of the billionaire club.

To date , with the pressing issues about the DAP Disbursement Acceleration Program , the senators agreed the unconstitutionality of the said funds based on how its processed and procured ( procedure), but the law itself creating the funds is somehow legal , though its apparently a citizen obligations to monitor each funds coming out from the DAP.

According to the Senator , Its embodied in the constitution RA 9184 for citizen to be aware and vigilant , " be an observer" , this mandate is given to the accredited NGO non government organization, and professionals .

For these efforts be fruitful, there is a urgent demand for the pending FOI bill ( freedom on information ) , be pass already into a law. This law provides for a more transparent , honest and integrity performance of each public officials especially the fund makers, solicitors, budgeters like the senators. Thru FOI bill, its promulgate for the mandatory opening the books of accounts of each lawmakers, his statement of of asset liabilities and networth.

With the new set up of apportioning funds for a certain projects each senator will pass their identified projects plans to their respective agencies concerns with the project, the secretary of the said agency will apportion, approved the said budget for the identified projects formerly passed by the senators or congressmen.

" However the loopholes , might be in the manner of agency estimates where in from the passing of estimates of total amount per projects , injunkment (costing mark up ) might be the possibility of the corruption",aside from the normal percentage commission during the (BAC) Bids and awards committee, as stated by the senator, " it is therefore that every one must really be vigilant , and be aware if we really we wanted to have a real changes in our society today.

To date for 2015 Philippine Government appropriated 2 .66 trillion ,of which 300 Billion goes to IRA ( Internal Revenue Allotment ) for LGU ( Local Government Unit) . This estimated budget comes from the local tax, real property tax, business tax , professional tax . Given with the old DAP system, this budgeted amount apportioned to the respective congressmen will be 70 million each and 200 million for each senators.

The new movement " Sagot Kita Bayan", will be launching a series of seminars regarding RA ( Republic Act) 9184 ),regarding rules and regulations on government procurement , for all the citizenry and concerns individual for them to be able to participate in observing how the the said budget /funds of government have been utilized.

The senator also sees , the pressing the demand for every Filipino to be resilient in the after havoc of climate change. Global climate change, due to carbon emmission is a global agenda, that needs to be priority .There fore he further encourage participants of " sagot kita bayan" official launching to be "risk mitigation and disaster responsive citizen through volunteerism".

Henry Estipona

Philippines

Until August 11, 2014 the SM Megamall is hosting the 10th Agriculture and Fisheries Technology Forum and Product Exhibition and the 27th BAR Bureau of Agricultural Research

SECURING THE 100 MILLLION FILIPINO FOOD REQUIREMENT FOR TODAY AND THE NEXT GENERATION

Department of Agriculture, Bureau of Agriculture Research (BAR)celebrate 10th Agriculture and Fisheries Technology Forum and Product Exhibition ,side by side with the 27th BAR Anniversary Celebration, with a theme " Isang Dekada ng mga angkop na Teknolohiyang Kaakibat ng Agri-preneur Tungo sa Maunlad na Ekonomiya", today at Mega Trade Hall 2 , 5th Flr., Bldg. B, SM Megamall , Mandaluyong City ,Philippines .

International partners from ICRISAT , Patancheru Andhra Pradesh , India, Dr. William D. Dar Director General of (ICRISAT)International Crops Research Institute for the Semi Arid Tropics, Director Gil C. Saguiguit , Jr., of SEAMED SEARCA , Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture College of Los Banos Laguna, Ma. Lorna B. Daffon, Executive Producer of Mag -Agri Tayo television show every Saturday 9:00am-10:00am NBN Channel, (IRRI)International Rice Research Institute Deputy Director General ( Communication -Partnerships) and Secretary to the Board of Trustees ,International Rice Research Institute , World Fish officer in Charge Maripaz L. Perez, Biodiversity International regional for Asia Pacific In Charge Mr. Agustin Molina , had been given recognition for their valuable support in ensuring self sufficient Philippines agricultural productions, transfer of technological know how to the Philippines ( DA) Department of Agriculture and ( BAR) Bureau of Agriculture Research.

Dr. William D. Dar, launches his four points platform during the opening of todays 10th Agriculture and Fisheries Technology Forum and Product Exhibition.

1. Inclusive Agricultural Avocation -Productions - the each stake holders especially the subsistence farmers and fisherfolk will not left behind by the 6.7 percent GDP growth rate. To trickle down the aggressive economic miracle of the country's it is a must that agricultural producers who happens to be at the bottom of the pyramid should be given attention by the policy makers.

2. Science based Agriculture farming/Industry- to ensure the steady supply and reserve for food consumption for 100 Filipino population , there must a new paradigm mind set , techniques , methodologies . Innovations through modern machines is to be employed in the farms together with a research bound approach in solving farm problems harnessing the computerized simulation in soil analysis, wind and water moisture , well researched organic and fertilizer (chemical ) should be used at the same time to fast track productions and harvest.

3. Market based Agricultural farming/industry- to level up the status of the agricultural farmers , everyone should consider the avocation of farming as a business, as an " entrepreneural spirit". It is there fore that farmers not only must well versed the seasonal value of crops to plants, the timing to harvest , the techniques to apply organic or chemical base fertilizer but on the manner on how to dispose their harvest with uncompromising profit margin on their bounty/harvest.The channels of markets , middle men, exporters,importers , consolidators , financers, banks intermediaries , industry leaders , all these actors must with in the scope of juridical concerns of the modern agricultural business farmers.

4. Resilient , Sustainable Agricultural Farming industry- should the Philippines have. The farmers of todays should have the knowledge of the looming effect of climate change and its direct impact on their crops . The risk associated with the climate change to the crops , to lands and so with the human risk exposure by using chemical base insect repellant , fertilizer.


Honorable Evelina G. Escudero , Representative , 1st District of Sorsogon,being at the forefront of bringing the issue of the BAR Bureau of Agriculture and Research and a former wife of former Agriculture czar and secretary of DA Dept. of Agriculture , Sonny Escudero is ensuring that the said agency should be given a representation in the Congress (law making and budget apportionment).

Citing with her own experience on her immersion of the best farm practices in India by the invitation of ICRISAT Director General William D. Dar, together with the wife of the congressional officers , " India with its billions of people were still capable of feeding its population , and yet have a highest food reserved in the region as of to date", it is because they employed a new normal way of agricultural farming practices.

India known for having an arable lands , susceptible to drought due to limited days of rainy days ,plus the fact of climate change effect, the people of "India" have a coping mechanism to be resilient with the said issue by catching all the rain water once its falls on their land . They have experts, farmers who take advantage the miracle of science employing it the farming techniques . They have also a community based farming where in small farmers can have a community support to be able to sustain during the lean season whilst waiting for the right time to harvest the crops.

Henry Casulla Estipona
Philippines