ZAMBOANGA PENINSULA – Local government units (LGUs) engineers across the peninsula are now better equipped to design sustainable water systems, following a specialized training session on EPANET software conducted by the Department of Agriculture (DA).
The three-day training, held from February 19 to 21, 2025, focused on the Detailed Engineering Design (DED) of Potable Water Systems (PWS) and aimed to improve rural infrastructure under the DA’s Philippine Rural Development Project (PRDP) Scale-Up.
“The knowledge you have gained will not only capacitate you in designing more efficient water systems but also contribute to the sustainable development of your communities,” said Engr. Gwendolyn B. Folgo, I-BUILD Component Head, who led the training.
Seventy participants from Zamboanga del Sur, Zamboanga del Norte, and Zamboanga Sibugay LGUs, as well as representatives from DA, the National Project Coordination Office, and the Mindanao Project Support Office, attended the session.
The training used EPANET, a software tool that allows engineers to model and optimize water distribution systems, ensuring efficiency and cost-effectiveness. Participants gained practical experience in modeling water flow, assessing pressure, and predicting water quality.
This initiative is part of the World Bank-funded PRDP Scale-Up, which aims to improve access to clean water in underserved rural areas and enhance the agricultural and fisheries sectors.
To date, the PRDP has implemented eight PWS projects in the Zamboanga Peninsula, with funding from the World Bank and the European Union. The capacity-building efforts, such as the EPANET training, are intended to ensure LGUs can effectively address future water infrastructure needs.
Participants also received Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) Continuing Professional Development (CPD) points, with 2 points for Civil Engineers and 8 points for Master Plumbers. (JPA/Zamboanga Sibugay)
