“When the well’s dry, we know the worth of water.” — Benjamin Franklin
On October 19, 2026, the Iloilo Convention Center will be the epicenter for the Western Visayas Water Utilities Summit 2026. It is expected to bring together industry leaders for water-secure future. Topics such as water security, infrastructure investment, and utility modernization will be tackled by government officials, water service providers, financial institutions, and technology leaders. It will also handle concerns on water infrastructure development, bulk water partnerships, lessons from Iloilo’s water service improvements, financing opportunities, billing and collections modernization, and secure digital payment systems.
With the theme “Growing Western Visayas Toward a Water-Secure Future,” the summit will pave way for the Official Pre-Conference to the 32nd Philippine Water Works Association (PWWA) International Conference and Exhibition. Its aims is “to address pressing challenges facing water utilities across the region, including limited access to capital, non-revenue water losses, aging infrastructure, inefficient billing and collection systems, and the growing demand for reliable water services.”
At the Summit, industry presentations and discussions will explore practical solutions “to strengthen the water sector, from securing water sources and improving distribution networks to financing infrastructure upgrades and adopting modern technologies.”
Iloilo Governor Arthur R. Defensor Jr., who will present the Iloilo Water Security Plan, will be highlighting the province’s direction toward strengthening long-term water security. He will be joined by leaders and representatives from the Metro Iloilo Water District (MIWD), Institute of Contemporary Economics (ICE), Flo Water Resources (Iloilo), Inc., Metro Pacific Iloilo Water (MPIW), Land Bank of the Philippines (LANDBANK), Mochi Solutions, and Electronic Commerce Payments Inc. (ECPay).
The summit is in collaboration with PWWA, the Provincial Government of Iloilo, the Iloilo Economic Development Foundation, Inc. (ILEDF), and Better Bosses for Better Business, alongside industry partners.
With registration opening at 11:00 AM, it is free to local water districts, private water service providers, real estate groups operating water utilities, government representatives, and other water sector stakeholders. Participation is subject to available seats. It will take place from 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Interested participants may register at https://luma.com/y45pkuam. For information and inquiries, please call Nicole Santos at (+63) 945 729 5594 or drop her a message at buildbetterbusinessph@gmail.com.