CEBU CITY -- Does the country have ample water supply?
This is one of the many questions that will be tackled when some 2,000 decision-makers in the water sector gather for the 43rd National Convention of the Philippine Association of Water Districts (PAWD) which will start on Wednesday, June 15, at the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino.
The gathering, which will last until June 17, is hosted by the Metropolitan Cebu Water District (MCWD).
The three-day event will serve as an avenue for stakeholders in the water industry to share their best practices, knowledge, experience and expertise in order to formulate a unified water sources conservation plan.
Carrying a theme ‘Water governance towards building a better normal’ is seen as a timely event as the water industry is starting to rise from the effects of the pandemic through a collective effort of their workforce, the government and their partners in development.
According to MCWD, the gathering aims to come up with strategies to effectively respond to the changing needs of consumers, address the gap between the supply and demand for potable water and ensure that Filipinos in the countryside have access to safe water supply and sanitation facilities.
The ever increasing demand for potable water because of economic and population growth highlights the need for adequate and appropriate water governance, the MCWD said.
International and local companies are expected to join in a two-day exhibit which will open on June 16.
PAWD’s mission is to promote self-reliant water districts in the country and is dedicated to advocate and promote pertinent policies, standards and programs to ensure effective and sustainable water district operations and collaboration.
The PAWD Convention is an annual gathering of water districts hosted by different water districts in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.
Due to the pandemic, the last in-person PAWD Convention was held in Davao City in February 2020.
The conventions in 2020 and 2021 were done virtually.