1 More Year for Bohol & Negros Oriental Provincial Components Signed
The implementation of DILG-GTZ Water Program toward Integrated Water Resources Management has been considered successful by independent assessors such as Price Waterhouse Coopers. Owing to the success of this program, the German Federal Ministry for Economic Development (BMZ) agreed to extend its implementation until July 31, 2010.
Based on the approval from BMZ, both Provincial Governments of Bohol and Negros Oriental were delighted to sign the Minutes of Agreement for the Extension of Phase IV in March 20 and 31 respectively during the handing-over ceremonies in both provinces. They were honored to continue the 1 year extension given to them.
In March, the GTZ staffs were quite busy in the preparation of handing-over activities for the provinces of Bohol and Negros Oriental. The vehicles, equipment and office furniture where already handed-over to the Provincial partners. The office space will still be use for meetings and other activities by the IWRM Board and the Council.
(Caption: left to right (seated):
Atty. Thomas Abapo- Provincial Administrator, Hanns-Bernd Kuchta- Program Director; (standing): Atty. John Titus J. Vistal-PPDC, Vince Delector, Jr.-GTZ Water, Rene Villaber-BEMO Head)
With the recent approval of Integrated Water Resource Management plans of Bohol IWRM Board and Negros Oriental IWRM Council, the direction of the extension of the program is focused on the implementation of key and priority measures to attain its vision towards adequate, safe, sustainable, and equitably accessible water resources.
(Caption: left to right (seated):
Mrs. Marilou Koh - Provincial Administrator, Hanns-Bernd Kuchta- Program Director; (standing): Staff from GTZ Water Program: Vince Delector, Jr., Joan Lacson & Alona Rubia)
The areas of cooperation between GTZ and 2 Provincial components in the extension phase of the program shall focus on the following areas: a) data harmonization and integration for planning purposes in a connected data bank, b) Provincial governments of Bohol and Negros Oriental implements at least two measures of the IWRM plan, and c) Water Service Providers (WSPs) in both Provinces participating in the benchmarking implement improvement measures.
The GTZ support was crafted in detailed during the joint operational planning where the sharing of responsibilities were agreed upon. The achievement of the indicators shall be monitored by both provincial governments of Bohol and Negros Oriental and GTZ.
