Coca-Cola Foundation Philippines, Inc. (CCFPI) continues to support community access to clean, safe water through its partnership with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Philippines and non-government organizations, for projects that improve watershed conservation and promote a water-secure future in Iloilo and Negros Occidental.
To formalize the partnership, CCFPI and USAID signed two Memoranda of Agreement, one for the Iloilo Water Resilience Initiative Project and another for Sustaining Watershed Health through Sustainable Livelihood and Agroforestry Project in Negros Occidental last March 22 at Bonifacio Global City, Taguig.
The Iloilo Water Resilience Initiative (IWARI) Project aims to promote climate resilience and help enhance water availability from the Tigum-Aganan Watershed and Iloilo-Batiano Watershed for upstream and downstream communities, including Iloilo City, through improved resource management. Through the CCFPI grant, IWARI Project will be implemented on the ground by Catholic Relief Services (CRS) Philippines and Green Forum Western Visayas while USAID shall provide technical oversight. This will address the urgent need for sustainable management of critical watersheds in Iloilo province and ultimately help improve water availability from the watersheds.
Meanwhile, the Sustaining Watershed Health through Sustainable Livelihood and Agroforestry (SWATH) Project in Negros Occidental aims to implement agroforestry and watershed conservation activities to help protect the province’s sources of freshwater, particularly the Himogaan River Watershed and Sicaba River Watershed — ensuring sustainable water resources for the farming communities and households of Negros Occidental residents. Through the CCFPI grant, the SWATH Project will be implemented on the ground by Negros Economic Development Foundation (NEDF) while USAID Philippines shall provide technical oversight.