The Market Monitor Minding the Nation's Business
The United States government has maintained its commitment since 2013 to help elevate the lives of less fortunate Filipinos in far-flung provinces after it turned over an almost P1 billion project to provide safe and clean drinking water.
“Through our partnership with the Philippine government, more than 1.3 million Filipinos have gained access to improved sanitation and over 1.5 million more now have access to safe and clean drinking water,” said US Ambassador to the Philippines Sung Kim in his keynote address during the turnover ceremony of the U.S. Agency for International Development’s (Usaid) Water Security for Resilient Economic Growth and Stability Project (Be Secure).
The embassy has joined the world in celebrating World Water Day on March 22.
Kim joined Philippine government representatives to celebrate the success of Be Secure, a P966-million program that increased access to safe water and sanitation in the Visayas and Mindanao regions.
The US Embassy said Be Secure implemented a four-year partnership between USaid and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to promote good governance, improve access to water and sanitation, and enhance resilience to variances in weather and climate trends in the cities of Cagayan de Oro, Iloilo, Zamboanga and in the provinces of Basilan, Maguindanao and Leyte.
During the ceremony, USaid also awarded warranties for water systems at 10 sites, including schools and health clinics. These warranties will cover the cost of possible damage from future typhoons and floods.
To implement Be Secure, the embassy said USaid coordinated with national government agencies, local governments, water utilities, private sector, media, non-governmental organizations and academic institutions.
It was launched in 2013 and, having achieved its objectives, will officially close in July.