NARBO

Brief Report on RBO Visit in Viet Nam & Philippines

 

Two delegations from Japan were dispatched to Viet Nam and the Philippines as “RBO visit activity”. The objective of this visit was to understand the needs on IWRM through sharing information and to facilitate the friendship between members.
The result of this visit is expected to be utilized for the examination of constitution of the Thematic Workshop on Facility Management led by JWA with members.
The visit of this year was carried out with the partnership of the “International Center for Water Hazard and Risk Management under the auspices of UNESCO: UNESCO ICHARM” which was newly established in the Public Works Research Institute of Japan (PWRI).

 

http://www.icharm.pwri.go.jp/centre/index_e.htm
Related Information: UNESCO ICHARM is opening for registration about the contractual researchers.
http://www.pwri.go.jp/eng/news/20060207/senmon.htm


1.RBO Visit in Viet Nam

From 19th-22nd February, the two JWA staff members conducted an investigation into current status of IWRM implementation in Viet Nam by visiting the Institute of Water Resources Planning (IWARP), the General Office for RBOs and the Provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of NAM DINH Province. Arriving at Hanoi City on 19th February, their visit first started on 20th February morning, hearing an overview of the current development of IWRM from Dr. To Trung Nghia, General Director of IWARP. The visit was then followed by a courtesy call to the new vice minister of MARD, Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Thuat. They also had a meeting with the General Office for RBOs including Mr. Le Duc Nam, Deputy General Manager and few of his staffs to discuss on how to invigorate NARBO activities. On the following day, the JWA staffs visited Hai Hau district - Nam Dinh province where embankment along the coastal line was collapsed by a strongly hit typhoon last September. The area was severely affected by breaking on about 20km-long stretch of the total 96km-embankment along the coastal areas. During the three-day visit, they understood the actual situation of implementing IWRM in Viet Nam, and consolidated closer relationship between the two parties.

 

Meeting at MARD Office	Site Visit in Nam Dinh province

2.RBO Visit in Philippines

From 22-25 February, 2staff members of NARBO secretariat (1 from JWA and 1 from ADB Institute) visited Manila, Philippines, to research the situation of implementation of IWRM in Philippines.

On 24th morning, they made a courtesy call for Mr. Ramon B. Alikpala, Director General of NWRB, and discussed the promotion of NARBO activities. Due to this visit, we were able to consolidate closer relationship between NARBO secretariat and NWRB. In addition, they obtained the following information on the establishment of new RBOs in Philippines, which is closely related to implementing IWRM, from other NWRB officials.

• Philippines Government plans to establish 12 RBOs in the near future, and the current official affairs of NWRB or Provincial government will be transferred to the RBOs.
• RBOs are supposed to take on the responsibility of the part of water permits affairs such as investigation and technical recommendation, which now NWRB shoulders.

Meanwhile, we planned to visit Laguna Lake Development Authority (LLDA) on 24th afternoon. However, President Arroyo declared the state of National Emergency at about 11:46 am on 24th, and Japanese Embassy strongly recommended that Japanese stayed in hotels and refrained from going out. Due to that, unfortunately, we cancelled the visit to LLDA.

 

At NWRB Office	Confluence of Passig River - Marikina Diversion canne