Councilor joins 10th World Water Forum

Baguio City Councilor Elmer Datuin will serve as a resource speaker during the 10th World Water Forum (WWF) on May 22, 2024 in Bali, Indonesia. 

The WWF is the largest international gathering in the water sector involving various stakeholders organized by the United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG) Asia Pacific co-hosted by the World Water Council. 

Datuin being the Philippine Councilors League (PCL) Chairman of Advocacy Committee and chairman of the City Council Committee on Social Services, Women, and Urban Poor will be sharing the challenges and local government unit initiatives to solve water-related issues. 

The WWF event aims to gather local governments’ active contribution that can stimulate and lead to real actions in addressing complex challenges of water management in the Asia Pacific Region. 

“We aim to advocate for local water priorities, network and build partnerships and influence policies associated with the local water context,” the UCLG invitation letter reads. 

The WWF organizers hope that the forum outcomes can help to build the capacity of participants to understand local issues and promote transformative water governance at the local level. 

“Local and regional governments stand at the forefront of addressing water-related challenges, serving as frontline implementers of transformative measures aimed at securing access to water and sanitation, mitigating scarcity, protecting aquatic ecosystems, building resilience within communities and fostering care systems,” the organizers said. 

Water resource sustainability was  identified by the city government of Baguio as one of the priority resilience issues in the current administration’s 7-point development agenda, which are aligned to the 17 Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations. – JM Samidan