Philippines - Accelerated Water and Sanitation Project in Selected Areas Project

Overview & Synopsis

Philippines Accelerated Water and Sanitation Project in Selected Areas (AWSPSA) for the Philippines has the development objectives to increase access to safely managed water supply and sanitation services and to improve the performance of water service providers in selected areas. Component 1: Infrastructure Investments for Safe and Climate Resilient Water Supply Services will expand and upgrade climate-resilient water systems from source to household in island and coastal contexts through surface and groundwater development, storage, transmission and distribution, non-revenue water reduction, energy-efficient pumping, and water quality monitoring across Bohol (Loboc Cluster), Siargao Island in Surigao del Norte, and Jolo in Sulu. Sub-component 1a will develop a Loboc River bulk water supply system with intake, water treatment plant, storage, about 35 kilometers of transmission, booster stations, and offtakes, rehabilitate and extend municipal distribution including district metering areas and new connections, and implement watershed protection to safeguard source reliability and quality; operations and maintenance will be organized through provincial and local arrangements that may include private operators with asset maintenance funds. Sub-component 1b will construct and rehabilitate deep wells and springs, install approximately 77 kilometers of transmission and 86 kilometers of distribution pipelines, add storage, expand service connections in eight municipalities on Siargao Island, and establish a centralized water quality laboratory with potential concession or outsourced operations. Sub-component 1c will upgrade protected spring sources, add treatment and pumping, replace the distribution network, build storage, and install new connections in Jolo and adjacent barangays, with climate-resilient design features. Component 2: Infrastructure Investments for Safe, Climate Resilient Sanitation and WASH Services in Institutions will finance septage treatment plants, desludging logistics, wastewater and biosolids reuse, and gender- and disability-inclusive WASH facilities in schools, health centers, and other public institutions, with operations and maintenance models and hygiene education. Sub-component 2a will provide institutional WASH across Bohol and operationalize regular septic tank emptying while exploring options to sustain septage treatment capacity. Sub-component 2b will construct septage treatment plants in General Luna and Socorro on Siargao, provide desludging and effluent transport trucks, and improve WASH facilities in schools and institutions. Sub-component 2c will build and rehabilitate WASH facilities in Jolo and support septic tank emptying preparation and hygiene promotion. Component 3: Institutional Reforms and Capacity Building will establish and strengthen provincial Public Service Management Units, local water utilities such as Local Water Economic Enterprises or Water Districts, and partnerships with private companies; adopt National Water Resources Board service standards and tariff-setting; and deliver on-site programs in governance, project preparation and management, financial management, business planning with climate integration, and technical and commercial operations to improve non-revenue water, cost recovery, and creditworthiness. Component 4: Project Management and Technical Assistance will support project management and supervision and provide technical assistance for climate-resilient sanitation and sewerage master planning, fecal sludge management programs and pilots, sanitation and hygiene behavior change, watershed management for biodiversity and water quality, water and energy assessments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and citizen engagement and monitoring. Sub-component 4a will finance project management for infrastructure delivery, and Sub-component 4b will finance the technical studies and pilots. Component 5: Contingent Emergency Response will allow rapid reallocation of uncommitted funds to respond to eligible emergencies, with procedures defined in the Project Operations Manual.