Maynilad, Bacolod water district ink twinning agreement

BACOLOD CITY — The Maynilad Water Services and the Bacolod City Water District (BACIWA) on Saturday signed a twinning agreement for the sharing of best practices between two water utilities.

Maynilad president Ricky Vargas told reporters the twinning agreement is a peer-to-peer learning arrangement under a Water Operators Partnership (WOP) grant.

This was designed by the Philippine Water Revolving Fund Support Program and the Philippine Association of Water Districts after they found out that one of the primary problems besetting old water districts in the country has been the reduction of its non-revenue water (NRW).

Under the agreement, Maynilad, as a "mentor twin," will teach or impart its experiences to BACIWA about its best practices to reduce NRW, Vargas said, adding that Maynilad will help the local district develop a strategy and work plan to address NRW management problems.

The advisory assistance will be "pro-bono" or for free, while the work plan comprises a water audit, development of an NRW strategy including financial and organizational plans, training-workshops, exchange of advice and coaching to support BACIWA in systematically addressing NRW in production and distribution systems.

The one-year WOP started last November, with Maynilad forging other twinning agreements with Leyte Metro and San Pedro water districts. —  (FREEMAN)