World experts to address water, sanitation confab

MANILA, Philippines - World technology specialists will share their knowledge and expertise during the first Water and Sanitation conference scheduled on May 14 to 16 in Baler, Aurora to Sen. Edgardo Angara said.

Angara, head of the Congressional Commission on Science and Technology and Engineering (COMSTE), said the experts will discuss various topics and issues that can help mitigate potential water crisis in the Philippines and unravel measures to turn water-rich Aurora province into the country’s prime water supply and services investments hub.

 The conference will bring together national leaders, international experts, local government units, non-governmental organizations and financial institutions to discuss the potential investment opportunities in applying science and technology to the water service sector in Aurora. The conference aims to find innovative ways to solve the water crisis in the country.

Expected to attend the two-day conference are internationally renowned engineers and technologists in the field of bottled water industry, alternative sources and the water quality monitoring technologies such as Jim Lozier, senior technologist from CH2M Hilla, USA, Puah Aik Num, Technology and Water Quality Office of Singapore’s Public Utilities Board, Ming Jiang of EDAW/AECOM China, and Mike McFarland, president of the Norland International, Inc., USA.

Water experts from Japan, Netherlands, and Saudi Arabi will tackle specific water and technology issues. Roelof Kruize of Netherland-based Waternet will discuss water and energy innovation while Amer bin Abdulaziz Al Rajibah from Saudi Arabia ‘s Ministry of Water and Electricity will talk about water reuse technologies for agriculture. Hitoshi Kin, Japan ‘s senior country officer, will touch on the important topic of water and climate change flood control.

Aside from technology specialists, experts on financing and private-public partnerships and water infrastructure will make the conference more interesting by discussing matters on opportunities in public-private financing partnerships, sustainable water and sanitation utilities, developing water resources and financing water projects in the country.

Tasked to lead such discussions are Takeshi Hongo, executive director of the Japan Bank for International Cooperation, Rudolf Frauendorfer, Asian Development Bank’s senior urban development specialist, Peter Binney, director of sustainable planning, Black and Veatch, USA, and Bok Young Lee, international project manager of Korea Water Resources Corp.