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2nd National Conference of Small Water Service Providers

ADB initiated a project in 2005 to demonstrate the speedy delivery of piped water supply to urban areas in India, the Philippines, and Viet Nam using small scale water providers (SSWP). The project involved piloting small piped water networks in urban poor communities, conducting surveys to determine the profile SSWPs and water consumers, and setting up a registration system for SSWPs, among others.

In line with this project, ADB supported a National Conference on Small Water Service Providers in the Philippines in August 2007. Attended by more than 200 representatives of small water service providers (SWSPs), the successful conference included workshops on regulation, financing, utility performance and operations, and upscaling. ADB presented progress of the Philippine pilot projects and the results of the SSWP market survey in Manila.

This follow-up second conference, with the theme, “Building Partnerships for Sustainable Water for All,” underscored the importance of continuously building and strengthening partnerships in the Philippine water sector to help SWSPs improve water service delivery. The conference also featured a forum on the Water Supply and Sanitation Collaborative Council’s “Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) for all” program.

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The main objective of the Conference was to sustain the efforts that were achieved during the 1st National Conference to improve water and sanitation services and continue providing support to strengthen water service providers. More specifically, the conference aimed to

• Update SWSPs on new water-related policies and programs that impact on SWSPs operations
• Further strengthen SWSP capacity in water service provision
• Strengthen the National Water and Sanitation Association of the Philippines (NAWASA), a new organization aimed to provide a venue for SSPWPs to share experiences and learn from each other, through partnership building and networking
• Provide a venue for exchange of knowledge, experiences and knowledge products among SWSPs

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Philippine Water Partnership, NAWASA, National Water Resources Board (NWRB) and Streams of Knowledge are organizing the event, with support from ADB.

Representatives from SWSPs, such as water cooperatives, community-based associations, local government units, and water districts will participate. Representatives from government agencies, the private sector, civil society, ADB and other donor agencies.

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