LWUA, ADB partner on P1.99-B water district development project

The Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA) and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) are jointly implementing a P1.99-billion Water District Development Sector Project (WDDSP) to strengthen water districts and improve water services across the Philippines.

In a news release on Thursday, LWUA said it is the implementing agency for the ADB-financed project and is responsible for its execution, oversight, and compliance monitoring to ensure development financing translates into improved infrastructure and better water services.

"The partnership with ADB reflects our shared commitment to helping local water districts become stronger, more sustainable institutions capable of meeting the growing water needs of Filipino communities," LWUA Administrator Jose Moises Salonga said.

"Beyond financing infrastructure, we are strengthening the institutions that operate these systems. Our goal is to ensure that every investment leads to better governance, improved operations, and more reliable water service for millions of Filipinos," he added.

According to LWUA, the ADB-backed initiative complements its broader mandate of developing and strengthening local water districts through financing, technical assistance, institutional development, and operational support.

Water districts under LWUA's jurisdiction currently provide water services to about 24.8 million Filipinos through more than 6.06 million service connections.

The agency said it has streamlined tariff approvals, strengthened governance standards, expanded capacity-building programs, and provided technical assistance to help local water districts improve their financial sustainability and undertake critical infrastructure projects.

LWUA added that these efforts have enabled more water districts to reduce non-revenue water, improve operational efficiency, and achieve higher institutional classifications through better governance and management practices. —VBL, GMA News