UPLB recently finalized its participation in the establishment of the CALABARZON Regional Water and Sanitation (WATSAN) Hubs for Capacity Development in collaboration with other national agencies and academic institutions.

The CALABARZON WATSAN Hub will enable CALABARZON municipalities with waterless barangays to access basic water-related services through Sanitation Governance programs such as the Sagana at Ligtas na Tubig sa Lahat (SALINTUBIG) program, Assistance to Municipalities, and other Water and Sanitation Governance Programs from 2017-2022.

Participating implementers, including UPLB, will serve as knowledge resource centers and capacity development centers for WATSAN and will provide information, expertise, and facilities to help participating communities acquire and manage their water and sanitation facilities.

Aside from UPLB, the organizing group counts the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) IV-A, Development Academy of the Philippines, Dasmariñas Water District, Pagsanjan Water District, Southern Luzon State University, Cavite State University, De La Salle University Dasmariñas, and the Consultants for Engineering, Science and Technology, as its members.

Chancellor Fernando C. Sanchez, Jr. signed the interagency memorandum of agreement creating the CALABARZON WATSAN at the Office of the Chancellor, BM Gonzales Hall on Oct. 17. DILG IV-A was represented by Anna Laurice M. Fabellon and Rom Joseph V. Pineda, both engineers at its Project Development Management Unit. Also in attendance were Dr. Patricia Ann J. Sanchez, associate professor at the School of Environmental Science and Management and head of the UPLB Interdisciplinary Studies Center for Water, and Dr. Virgilio Villancio, its capacity building committee chair. (Jessa Jael S. Arana)