P6.6-Billion needed between 2007-2010

LWUA to tap new fund sources to sustain prov'l water supply

Quezon City--- With the inability of the last Congress to act expeditiously on its request for the increase in its authorized capitalization and local as well as foreign borrowing capacities, the Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA) has set its focus on tapping new sources of funds to sustain the development of provincial water supply in keeping with the government's goal of providing safe potable water to all barangays by 2010.

LWUA Administrator Orlando C. Hondrade said that the agency will be presenting during the forthcoming LWUA-Water District National Forum to be held June 21, 2007 at the Manila Hotel its plans and strategies for raising an estimated P6.6 billion needed to finance and support the implementation of some 250 water supply development and modernization projects targeting as many provincial areas particularly the so-called still "waterless communities" between 2007-2010.

Hondrade said during the one-day forum, the agency and the participating water districts will also hear and evaluate proposals from various sectors including local and foreign banks and funding institutions for alternative options in the development and financing of provincial water supply projects particularly for the small water districts.

According to Hondrade, representatives from the bilateral and multilateral funding agencies as the United States Agency for International Development-Environmental Cooperation-Asia (USAID-ECOASIA), the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) as well as local banks as the Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP) and the LGU Guarantee Corporation (LGUGC) will present proposals during the Forum.

Cesar Yniguez, consultant for the United States Agency for USAID-ECOASIA will discuss " Developing Alternative Lending Strategies and Products for LWUA and the Water Districts", LBP senior vice president Simeona S. Guevarra will present " LBP Lending Schemes for Water Districts" and Kenji Kasamatsu, project director of the JICA-LWUA Small Water Districts Improvement Project (SWDIP) will talk on "Modeling for Growth for Small Water service Providers".

Meanwhile, Lydia Orial, LGUGC president/CEO will present "LGUGC Guarantee Programs"; ADB senior specialist Rudolf Frauendoffer will delve on "ADB Initiatives in the Water and Sanitation Sector" and Government Corporate Counsel Alberto C. Agra will discourse on " Private Sector Participation in Water Supply Development".

c June 8 , 2007