Representatives from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) conducted a scoping mission in Zamboanga City, one of the candidates for the Livable Cities Investment Project, a program that addresses infrastructure deficits and focuses on local economic growth and development in Mindanao.

The ADB officials met with Mayor Beng Climaco, City Administrator Apple Go and City Planning and Development Coordinator Engr. Rodrigo Sicat to discuss issues related to waste water, solid waste and drainage needs in the city.

Mayor Climaco welcomes the project saying it will be very timely and auspicious, as the City Government is moving forward through aggressive implementation of its Security, health and education program.

The Livable Cities Program, which will start 2020, aims to cover 1 to 2 cities in the Philippines comprising main trade hub cities in the Mindanao region and/ or tourism hub cities in the Visayas region. Its components include wastewater treatment and management, drainage and solid waste management in each of the project cities.

ADB representatives who were in the city recently were  Sorin Chung – Financial Management Specialist, Alain Morel – Senior Country Specialist and Sameer Kamal – Urban Development Specialist.

The project is in line with ADB’s vision “to transform the archetypical chaotic, polluted, inequitable city of Asia into a competitive, equitable and environmentally sustainable urban region – in short, a livable city”.

According to the ADB program rationale, the proposed cities will be selected based on analysis of the needs in urban services of highly urbanized cities in the Mindanao and Visayas regions and discussions with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and local governments.

Under the said program, the ADB will provide a long-term support (10-20 years) to the proposed cities. “Where possible, the project will build on initiatives under other programs, such as the USAID program “Strengthening Urban Resilience for Growth with Equity (SURGE) as well as master planning and feasibility studies financed by JICA.”

The project, according to the ADB rationale, will also coordinate with the ongoing National Sewerage and Septage Management program. (Sheila Covarrubias)