Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr welcomed key representatives from the Coca-Cola Philippines and Catholic Relief Services (CRS) Philippines who are active partners of the provincial government in achieving water security and resilience in the province of Iloilo.
Coca-Cola Foundation Philippines was led by its president Maria Cecilia Alcantara. Also joining here are Coca-Cola Europacific Aboitiz Philippines’ Atty. Juan Lorenz Tanada; Coca-Cola Far East Limited Senior Director Public Affairs, Communications and Sustainability Christine Ponce Garcia; and independent trustees Ramon Alikpala and Dr. Milwilda “Nene” Guevarra.
CRS Philippines was led by Country Representative Jonas Tetangco, Head of Programming Maria Concepcion Nobleza, Former Chief of Party (Climate Resilient Cities Project) Alan Luis Silayan, and IWARI-CRS Project Program Manager Arce Chua.
A focal point of the meeting was an update on the Iloilo Water Resilience Initiative (IWARI) presented by Mr. Silayan. This three-year project, funded by the Coca-Cola Foundation Philippines, is dedicated to the restoration and protection of critical watersheds such as the Maasin Watershed Forest Reserve, Tigum-Aganan Watershed in Pavia, and the Iloilo Batiano Watershed.
Provincial Government Environment and Natural Resources Office Supervising Environmental Management Specialist Mitzi Peñaflorida also presented the Iloilo Province Integrated Water Security Plan 2026-2035, a comprehensive and long-term roadmap for achieving sustainable, equitable, and climate-resilient water security for all Ilonggos by 2035.
The IPIWSP was also crafted with the assistance from both partner organizations.
Governor Defensor expressed his deep gratitude to CRS Philippines and Coca-Cola Philippines for their proactive role in addressing the province's water challenges.
Alcantara noted that the Coca-Cola Foundation is eager to expand its support in terms of water accessibility to geographically-isolated and disadvantaged areas, rehabilitation of watersheds, and solid waste management.
Also present during the activity are Provincial Administrator Raul Banias, PGENRO chief Atty. Caesar Emmanuelle Buyco Jr., Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office chief Cornelio Salinas, Provincial Planning and Development Office acting head Jigger Labergue, PPDO assistant head Valme Lujan, and other members of the Iloilo Province Water Security Group.
#MoRProGResIloilo