AMID the worsening effects of the El Niño phenomenon including depletion of water resources in the country, two German non-government organizations are bringing in a project that will implement sustainable water management in Bacolod City.

The project dubbed “Watermanagement Philippines Innovate” (WPI) will be implemented through a partnership among Fraunhofer Center for International Management and Knowledge Economy (IMW), Sachsen Wasser GmbH (Sawa), Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda), Association of Negros Producers (ANP) and Bacolod City Water District (Baciwa).

They signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) at Seda Capitol Central in Bacolod City recently.

The agreement seeks to create capacity for sustainable water management to benefit stakeholders in the city, the ANP in a statement said.

Sawa, a German organization specializing in the field of water supply and sanitation, was represented by Dr. Jurgen Wummel.

Fraunhofer IMW is an applied research organization focusing on the economics of transfer and innovation processes. It was represented by Henrik Beermann and Dr. Friedrich Dornbusch.

The ANP said the cooperation between these two foreign organizations is focused on strengthening the water supply management and change innovation management for Baciwa.

“ANP has worked on coordination. Tesda, meanwhile, plays a role in the creation of technical personnel needed by the water district,” the organization said, adding that

Tesda will also provide training and new qualification in the municipal water industry.

“Baciwa serves as the pilot partner in the creation of technical expertise and management of municipal waters. Once the project is successful, it will be rolled out to other municipal water suppliers all over the country,” it added.

Other partner-organizations have recognized the support of Tesda since the start until the ongoing negotiations and project development.

The agency’s national project management office has already given full support and approval to engage in the project through its Provincial Director Jimmicio Daoaten.

ANP, for its part, supports the project through its expanded network of development-oriented organizations.

It said that its role as the coordinator unifies both the industry and consumer needs, facilitates innovation needs, and consolidates the project output to create greater impact for Bacolod City and Negros Occidental.

The project will run for three years and is expected to create changes in Baciwa and ultimately in the water industry through innovation and change management, it added.