THE Embassy of Israel recently organized a seminar to impart its country’s expertise and experience on water-resource management.
Through MASHAV, or Israel’s Agency for International Development Cooperation, and the United States Agency for International Aid and Development by way of the latter’s “Safe Water” initiative, held a “Water Security Strategies” gathering on November 17 with the Philippine government and local water concessionaires for the said purpose.
“The technologies were introduced together with good policies and regulations that made Israel the [world’s leading country] in managing the water sector: from desalination to reuse of sewage, minimum loss of water, and more,” Ambassador Ilan Fluss shared. “Israel invested in technology to support [its growing demand and urbanization…Through the seminar, we hope that the Philippines’s key implementing agencies will gain insights from our] experience, and adapt them to local conditions.”
Like all countries in the region, Israel faced several challenges in the water sector. The Middle East, the region where the “Holy Land” belongs, is a dry area, with more than 50 percent of its land situated in the desert.
Among Israeli companies in attendance which presented their water technologies were ARAD Group, Atlantium, Okiana, and Watergen. The delegation offered cutting-edge Israeli technologies in the areas of advanced metering infrastructure, water and wastewater-management and treatment solutions, water-control solutions, and turnkey projects.
They highlighted their country’s innovation and technology that are hoped to inspire and encourage the Philippine water sector, businesses and local government units (LGUs) to invest in technologies that will help manage water sustainably.
Officials from the National Water Resources Board, Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System, as well as Manila Water shared challenges of the Philippines, as water availability continues to fall and demand expands, then presented perspectives on managing water scarcity in the country.
These were analyzed by the Israeli delegation, as they presented new solutions to better manage the country’s water sector. Representatives from national government agencies, LGUs, private sector and the academe were in attendance.