A six-man team led by City Environment and Parks Management Office (Cepmo) visited Malaysia for cooperation, trainings, and site visits to sewage treatment plant (STP) facilities.
The team, lead by Cepmo Head, Atty. Rhenan Diwas, entered into a memorandum of agreement with Indah Water Konsortium (IWK) in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and the Asian Development Bank.
The collaboration aims to facilitate the exchange of best practices, transfer of expertise and technology, peer-to-peer exchange, and to spur innovation of water facilities.
The MOA stipulates an IWK 12-month mentoring of Cepmo through the Water Organization Partnership for Resilience Program under ADB.
The MOA was signed by Chief Executive Officer of IWK Narendran Maniam and Diwas with Chief Secretary of Ministry of Natural Resources, Environment, and Climate Change Dr. Ching Thoo Ki; IWK Chair Ahmad Johnie Zawawi; and Cepmo Wastewater and Hazardous Waste Management Division Head, Engr. Wilbur Suanding,
Diwas and Suanding, together with Engrs. Paul Palangeo and Jhomer Samoranos, Cepmo Administrative Officer Sandra Almag, and Plumber Foreman Rodolfo Estepa participated in the sessions and presented the ADB Baguio Resilient City Tourism Project.
The training-workshop focused on stakeholders’ awareness and communication, tariff management, business continuity, desludging protocols, monitoring of private operators, breakdown sessions and planning of online engagement.
The Baguio group also visited sewerage/septage facilities in Putrajaya 2, Pantai 2 and Ecopark, Pantai 1 and Sewerage Gallery, and Indah Water Gallery and Fertiliser production facility.
Narendran said IWK shares expertise to further enrich the quality of life of surrounding communities and support water-related entities in Asia and the Pacific for efficiency, inclusivity, and resiliency.
IWK is also committed to ensure water operation and industry preparedness to address water safety, Narendran said.
IWK officials visited the city’s STP last Sept. 27 to 29. – Julie G. Fianza
