Daegu awaits MWSS Board’s approval for G2G cooperation
South Korea’s third largest city, Daegu, is now waiting for the approval of the Metropolitan Waterworks Sewerage System (MWSS) Board of Trustees to its proposal to form government-to-government cooperation with the Philippine government.
MWSS Administrator Reynaldo Velasco said the Daegu project proposal covers a government-to-government cooperation support for advanced water technology demand area; improvement of inefficient operation of water purification plant and sewage treatment plant; improper sewage discharge system improvement; and installation of water purification system.
While Velasco welcomed the proposal, the MWSS Board is yet to approve it.
"With the government’s Build, Build, Build program, MWSS is optimistic the proposal will be acceptable to the Philippine government, notably the MWSS Board of Trustees, to fast-track the improvement of the country’s sanitation and sewerage facilities," a statement from MWSS showed.
Chaired by retired Regional Trial Court judge Franklin J. Demonteverde, the MWSS board includes Velasco as the vice chairman and seven trustees.
Velasco said Daegu's proposal is a welcomed development for the Philippine water supply industry, particularly MWSS, following close bilateral relations forged during the recent visit of President Rodrigo Duterte to Korea early this month.
The cooperation project is expected to help MWSS address the problem of wastewater treatment and better water quality system.
As of now, the sewerage coverage of Metro Manila, which is home to more than 12 million people, only stands at 22 percent.
Once approved, the proposal is that Daegu will provide MWSS diagnosis and maintenance of its pipe network to prevent sewage leakage and inflow of nonpoint pollution sources. Advanced sewage management and treatment techniques will likewise be employed.
Water purification systems, which will be installed, is expected to resolve water shortage in underdeveloped areas where water supply is not provided, while small-scale water purification systems in accordance with the size of the residents will be established including a water intake network.
It is not yet clear whether MWSS has to pay Daegu for these services.
The proposal was conveyed by a delegation from Daegu Metropolitan City led by Deputy Mayor for Economic Affairs Yon Chang Kim.
Also in the Daegu delegation were Park Gihwan, Director of Investment & Trade Division; Anthony Jung, Deputy Director; and Wonsuk Kee.
Daegu’s interest in the country's water industry is not new.
Last year, it hosted the Korea International Water Week annually along with the World Water Forum held simultaneously where the MWSS chief along with Maynilad President Ramoncito Fernandez and Manila Water President Ferdinand dela Cruz served as resource speakers.
Apart from the Philippines, Daegu City has a cooperation project on the water industry sector of China, which includes a sewage treatment cooperation.