The Duterte administration is moving to improve Metro Manila’s overall sewerage coverage and wastewater management system as part of its effort to enhance water sufficiency and security.
In a recent news statement, the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) announced that it has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Daegu Metropolitan City in a special ceremony at the Korea International Water Week in Daegu Exco on September 12.
MWSS Administrator Reynaldo V. Velasco signed the MOU with Daegu City Mayor Young Jin-kwon calling for mutual cooperation to meet head-on challenges and opportunities that threaten the water supply system in the two metropolitan cities.
The MOU signing was part of the 2018 Korea International Water Week hosted by Daegu Metropolitan City, where Velasco also served as one of the featured speakers at the 2018 International Water Business Workshop where he talked about water security and wastewater management, as well as the relevance of the MWSS-Daegu tie-up.
Both leaders acknowledged the need to form an intercity network by developing the best solutions for common water problems and integrated water management.
Daegu is South Korea’s third-largest city and the MOU is a welcome development for the Philippine water supply industry, particularly MWSS, amid closer bilateral ties forged during the June 2018 visit of President Duterte to Korea.
The MOU calls for the two parties to work together to develop technical solutions to address water resources-related challenges; develop the water industries in MWSS service areas as well as in Daegu; and strengthen cooperation among water institutions in cities and municipalities covered by MWSS and in Daegu.