MANILA — The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) and Hungarian Watertechnology Corporation (HWTC) on Wednesday signed a strategic cooperation agreement in a bid to beef up provision of safe and clean water in calamity-hit areas.
NDRRMC executive director Ricardo Jalad, HWTC chief executive office Adrian Kiss and Hungarian Ambassador to the Philippines Dr. Jozcef Bencze signed the agreement.
This formally forged the partnership of two entities in implementing the project titled “Delivery of a mobile water treatment compact unit to supply drinking water to the population during emergency situations and natural disasters in the Philippines.”
The equipment will be shipped in February 2020 and is expected to be commissioned by April.
Jalad, in an interview with reporters, said acquisition of the mobile water treatment compact unit will help address water supply concerns during times of calamities or disasters in the Philippines.
“We see that we need more of this kind of equipment that HWTC can provide for us. Especially the kind of equipment that can even process seawater. This is a need that HWTC can provide in addressing the gaps whenever disaster happens,” the NDRRMC chief said.
NDRRMC spokesperson Mark Cashean Timbal also said the agency welcomes the generosity of the HWTC and Hungary for the partnership and the water treatment technology being shared with the Philippines.
“This will boost our ability to respond to the needs of calamity-affected communities in terms of the provision of potable water,” he added.