Water Alliance seeks to address issues on climate risk, water security

LOPEZ-LED energy company First Gen Corp. has “embedded” itself in an alliance of water stakeholders, with its president leading a group of mostly private companies to help address issues on climate risks and water security.

“For us, it’s part of our advocacy. Climate change, is our advocacy. The question is what are the practical aspects of climate change. Part of that is water,” said First Gen President and Chief Operating Officer Francis Giles B. Puno in an interview on Wednesday.

“In our case, First Gen in particular, we’re not in the water distribution business, we are in hydro resources, we have a little bit of water distribution in the industrial park. On the other hand, it allows us to embed ourselves in an important aspect of the whole climate change program, which is water — water availability, water management, water sustainability,” he said.

First Gen, the country’s leading gas power generation company, has around 2,000 megawatts (MW) in operating gas facilities comprising of four gas-fired power plants, namely: the 1,000-MW Santa Rita power plant, the 500-MW San Lorenzo power plant, the 414-MW San Gabriel power plant and the 97-MW Avion power plant.

On Wednesday, the group convened its key stakeholders from business, government, academe and nongovernment organizations for the Third Water Alliance Forum at the Peninsula Hotel in Makati City.

The event was organized by the Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP) to raise awareness on the issues on water security amid climate change risks. It also sought to encourage partnerships as well as coming up with solutions to address critical issues.

“Water security is about ensuring that every person has reliable access to enough safe water at an affordable price to lead a healthy, dignified, and productive life. It is also about maintaining the ecological systems that provide water especially in the context of climate change,” Mr. Puno told the participants of the forum

The “Water Alliance” was launched in 2015, with Edgar O. Chua as chairman. At that time, he was president and chairman of Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corp.

Since the launch, the membership grew from few to 52 members from diverse and expanded membership with businesses, research institutions and academe, and social development organizations.

In 2017, Mr. Puno stepped in as the new Water Alliance champion when Mr. Chua retired. He said the group’s membership has grown to about 70, comprised of local companies as well as multinational firms.

The alliance identified critical issues of concerns that it can help address, including: looming water security crisis happening in the next 10 years affecting critical high growth areas; “un-updated and irresponsive” water policies, most not fully enforced; the absence of a comprehensive plan or roadmap; problematic water governance structure; and the fragmented regulation of water supply services.

It also seeks to address how the private sector is a heavy user and polluter of water, and the reality that many poor communities still lack access to safe drinking water and sanitation systems.

Established in 1970, PBSP is a business-led nongovernment organization that creates sustainable solutions to societal problems. —