HENRICK Beerman, project coordinator of Fraunhofer Center for International Management (IMW), has discussed a project on sustainable water supply management with the representatives of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda) in Western Visayas and various groups in the province.
The Philippine-German cooperation project is dubbed "Water Management in the Philippines Innovates (WPI)."
Beerman, in a meeting conducted by Tesda-Negros Occidental and Association of Negros Producers (ANP) at Nature’s Village Resort and Restaurant in Talisay City on February 13, highlighted the importance of the agency in the said project.
He said the agency will not only provide deeper understanding of the local conditions of the vocational training system in the Philippines but also for opportunities and barriers in establishing and disseminating a new curriculum in sustainable water management.
The project, with funds from the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), aims to initiate innovation processes in vocational education and training in the Philippines’ water supply system.
It aims to utilize strategic water and innovation management as a lever for upgrading staff capabilities in the area of water management.
This is to ensure that the project’s beneficiaries gain access to practical and theoretical skills needed to address the complex challenges of ensuring resilient drinking water supply for local communities.
The ANP and the Bacolod City Water District (Baciwa) will implement the project in Bacolod City.
Two German organizations are involved in the project. One is the Sachsenwasser GmbH (Sawa), a German consultancy focusing bringing in high quality expertise in water management.
Sawa is involved in international projects including those in the Philippines.
The Fraunhofer Center for International Management (IMW) is also helping in the project by bringing in its expertise in innovation and change management.
It is part of the German Fraunhofer Society, Europe’s largest applied research organization
Meanwhile, among who attended the meeting were Tesda Region 6 Director Ashary Banto, Tesda-Negros Occidental Provincial Director Jimmicio Daaten, ANP Board chairperson Cristina Gaston, and officers of the Association of Technical Institutions of Negros Occidental (Atino), among others. (PR)