Water and Sanitation Program Director Ulrike Lipkow of  the  German  Technical Cooperation said yesterday that the  concern  over water  and  sanitation is very diverse  because  it involves  the   health, environment  and  infrastructure of local government units in the country.

The  GTZ  is providing  technical  assistance  to the water  sanitation  program  in Negros Oriental, and also helping in the Visayas-Mindanao  Water  Sanitation  Summit set April 1-3, at  Bethel  Guesthouse, in Dumaguete  City.

Lipkow said they hope to draw the interest of local government units to water sanitation because of the scarcity  of  supply  which is  now  felt  in  some  areas  in  the Philippines.

Summit delegates will include local chief executives, health officers and planning officers from Western, Central and Eastern Visayas regions and Region 10 in Mindanao. 

Also expected to join are  representatives from the departments  of  Environment  and  Natural  Resources; Health; and  Interior  and  Local  Government.

Lipkow  said the  initiative  of   the local  governments of Dumaguete and Bayawan  in adopting  waste water treatment facilities  will  serve  as  a  model to other LGUs.

Manjuyod recently also completed its waste water treatment facility, he said.   

They hope to come up with a comprehensive water and sanitation plan  from the  LGU during the  summit, Lipkow added.*MA

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