USAID to wrap up Be Secure project in Iloilo

From the Philippine News Agency (Mar 3): USAID to wrap up Be Secure project in Iloilo

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) will be closing its four-year Water Security for Resilient Economic Growth and Stability (Be Secure) project in Iloilo come July this year.

In a statement, USAID said that a “close out” activity to showcase the project’s important achievements in providing water security sanitation and climate resilience will be held in Iloilo this coming March 10.

It will also serve as venue for USAID to recognize its partners, specifically local government units, water districts, academe and other stakeholders who made significant contributions to the success of the Be Secure’s works in Iloilo.

In an interview Friday, USAID Be Secure Project Climate Resiliency team leader Elisea Gozun said that the Be Secure project in Iloilo has provided significant, effective and sustainable contributions in terms of water security and climate resiliency.

She mentioned that among the highlights of its accomplishments were downloading of the climate projections in Iloilo City, production of hazard maps for rainfall and temperature, training of people in water auditing, introduction of septage treatment for sanitation and conduct of vulnerability assessment of water resources of Iloilo.

In the academe, USAID was also able to promote the water demand management, which is now being incorporated in the curriculum of Central Philippine University (CPU).

Gozun said that the projects were able to mobilize and educate stakeholders and improve their capacities for integrating climate change into local planning.

The USAID Water Security for Resilient Economic Growth and Stability (Be Secure) Project is a four-year activity that seeks to promote good governance and build capacity for long-term water security, improve access to water and wastewater treatment services, and build more resilient communities.

It focuses on delivering increased sustainable access to water supply and wastewater treatment services and increased resilience to climate-related water stress and hydrologic extremes.

The project started in July 2013 and operates in six focal areas namely Basilan, Iloilo, Leyte, Maguindanao, Misamis Oriental and Zamboanga Provinces.

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