USAID RDM/A Regional Environment Office Weekly Report Week Ending January 25, 2008

USAID Facilitates Private Water Sector Loan for Philippines CityWith assistance from the USAID ECO-Asia program, Dutch SNS REAAL Bank approved a P17.5 million (US$437,500) loan to San Fernando City. The funds will come from SNS Water Fund, the bank’s investment window dedicated to sustainability, entrepreneurship and innovation in water management. The loan will fund the construction of the city’s slaughterhouse wastewater treatment facility, septage treatment and disposal facility, and civil works for the public market wastewater treatment plant, which recently began operating. These projects will help achieve improvements in health and the environment for an estimated 130,000 people in San Fernando. ECO-Asia has provided technical assistance to the city to develop these projects using a participatory approach, building public support through information campaigns, and providing information on low-cost technology options. ECO-Asia also assisted the city in preparing needed documentation for the loan application and facilitated communications with the bank.

Phnom Penh Develops Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Strategy On January 24, 2008, the Municipality of Phnom Penh, Cambodia convened a stakeholder consultation meeting to prepare a strategy for improving water supply and sanitation, and promoting hygiene in one municipal district. Supported by the USAID ECO-Asia program, the strategy is the culmination of participatory planning effort aimed at engaging local stakeholders in identifying challenges related to water, sanitation and environmental health, and in developing solutions that can be initiated at the local level. Based on the district strategy, Phnom Penh will initiate a pilot project for addressing priority issues by “twinning” with another ASEAN city. Twinning activities will focus on promoting hygiene while improving access to water supply and sanitation facilities, and will encourage replication throughout the municipality.

First Overseas Posting of USG Wildlife Law Enforcement Officer Begins The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Law Enforcement Division this week deployed one of its most experience Special Agents to provide training and support to ASEAN-WEN officers in their fight against wildlife crime, a major organized criminal activity in Asia. The six-month USAID-sponsored secondment represents the first time a US Government Law Enforcement officer has been dedicated to an overseas nature protection program for an extended length of time. Based in Bangkok, Special Agent Doug Goessman will join the ASEAN-WEN Support Program and the ASEAN-WEN Program Coordination Unit (PCU). Special Agent Goessman brings 30-years of experience.