Water group turns 39

The Philippine Water Works Association (PWWA), the umbrella organization of the country’s water supply industry, turned 39 on Friday, capped by a conferment of fellows to outstanding individuals and the launching of Water and Environment Journal, a bimonthly magazine aimed at promoting the water industry and advocacy for sustainable development.

Conferred as PWWA fellow awardees during ceremonies held at Novotel Hotel were Bernardo Buenaventura, Pedrito Camilet Jr.,  Jorge Consunji,  Orlando Hondrade,  Ramon  Pastor, Alfredo Silva and Arturo Villasan.

PWWA president Eulogio Agatep II said as part of “our advocacy, the Water and Environment Journal seeks to bring awareness on the importance and significance of protecting the country’s precious resources—the water system and the environment—including new trends and technology in the water supply industry.”

For the maiden issue, the cover story features the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) Annual Million Tree Challenge, a  reforestation project spearheaded by MWSS administrator and PWWA director Reynaldo Velasco,  that aims to plant one million trees every year for five years in six critical watershed areas.

Velasco is the featured water industry leader and his five-point agenda on water security and sustainability at MWSS. Other featured water executives in this issue are new Manila Water Corp. president and chief executive officer Ferdinand de la Cruz and Maynilad president Ramoncito Fernandez.

Other notable stories are on San Miguel Corp.’s 2030 Water Agenda and its Bulacan Bulk Water Project, K-Water and its major water and power projects in the Philippines, Wastewater and Sewerage Projects of Manila Water and Maynilad, Local Water Utilities Administration’s Bamboo Project and the National Water Roadmap and Summit in Malacañang.

Former President Fidel V. Ramos writes a regular column for the magazine.