MANILA, 23 April 2022 — The Philippines will join the two-day 4th Asia-Pacific Water Summit (APWS) in Kumamoto City, Japan. The Summit, happening on 23-24 April 2022, was originally scheduled in April 2020, but postponed due to the novel coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.
 
President Rodrigo Roa Duterte will address the summit in a video message. President Duterte is expected to urge greater regional cooperation to ensure better water resources management and security.
 
Meanwhile, President Duterte appointed Climate Change Commission Secretary Robert E.A. Borje as his Special Envoy and representative. Secretary Borje will participate in plenary and breakout sessions to advance key Philippine positions on water resource management and security in the context of climate change.
 
Anchored on the theme, “Water for Sustainable Development-Best Practices and the Next Generation,” heads of states and representatives from international organizations in the Asia-Pacific region will gather to address various water-related issues and pursue efforts toward sustainable development.
 
The 4th APWS will also share the long-standing efforts of the host city, Kumamoto, in conserving groundwater as well as its recovering efforts from the 2016 Kumamoto Earthquakes.
 
Secretary Borje, as the representative of President Duterte, will share crucial steps of the Philippines to attain water security, including our pursuit of an enhanced policymaking, oversight, regulatory and management substructures at various levels for an integrated climate-adaptive water resources management.


Access more details about the 4th Asia-Pacific Water Summit by visiting its website at https://www.4apws-kumamoto2022.jp/..