GAWA App: Enhancing watershed management in Quezon Province
A collaborative technological initiative between General Nakar—the largest municipality in Quezon Province—the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS), and MWSS concessionaires Maynilad Water Services, Inc. (MWSI) and Manila Water Company, Inc. (MWCI) has culminated in the launch of a watershed patrol app. This significant development was announced at the MWSS corporate headquarters in Quezon City, marking a major step forward in environmental management and protection.
A watershed monitoring app, created by Philippine technology firm AccessGov Solutions, was launched recently at the MWSS Corporate Office in Balara, Diliman, Quezon City. Present at the launch event were AccessGov Solutions President Bryce Refuerzo (sixth from left), Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) Administrator Leonor C. Cleofas (center, eighth from left), Mayor Eliseo R. Ruzol of General Nakar (ninth from left) and MWSS Deputy Administrator Jojo Dorado, Jr. (seventh from right). The General Nakar Automatic Tracking and Watershed Patrol App (GAWA) facilitates efficient management of watersheds.
Mayor Eliseo R. Ruzol of General Nakar heralded the launch of the General Nakar Automatic Tracking and Watershed Patrol App (GAWA), a vital part of the broader Watershed Database and Management Information System with Forest Monitoring Application and Subscription Project (WMIS-GAWA Project). Developed in collaboration with AccessGov Solutions, Inc., this initiative stands as a testament to innovative approaches in safeguarding natural resources. Mayor Ruzol expressed the project’s significance, emphasizing, “One of the key aspects of the project is its positive impact on our IPs (indigenous people) residing in watershed communities. Watershed management and protection are crucial to the growth of our municipality, and the GAWA app will play a pivotal role in achieving our goals. This digital transformation enables stakeholders to make informed decisions based on real-time data, enhancing our ability to address environmental challenges effectively.”
Adding to the project’s significance, MWSS Administrator Leonor C. Cleofas acknowledged the potential for broader application, stating, “MWSS recognizes the exemplary benefits brought about by this digital platform to ensure the sustainability of water supply and resiliency of the watersheds and, therefore, considers its potential replication or scaling up in other watersheds encompassing present and future water sources.”
The GAWA app is part of the General Nakar Sustainable Integrated Area Development’s second phase, anchored on a Memorandum of Agreement between the Municipality of General Nakar, MWCI, and MWSI. This initiative introduces the Integrated Water Resource Management Decision Support System (IWRMDSS), aimed at facilitating a science-based and collaborative data collection, planning, and decision-making for the management of Umiray, Kaliwa, and Kanan watersheds. The app serves as a watershed-based application tool, a first of its kind for MWSS, designed to enhance service delivery to watershed communities, monitor project outputs and outcomes, document diverse flora and fauna, and identify priority areas for intervention. Its launch represents a significant advancement in the use of technology for environmental preservation and community support, underscoring a collective commitment to innovation, sustainability, and the well-being of watershed communities particularly the indigenous peoples.
“The success of the GAWA app launch reflects our firm’s dedication to our advocacy for digital transformation in government operations, particularly in the area of environmental sustainability,” AccessGov Solutions President Bryce Refuerzo said in a post-launch media interview.
“By facilitating a more efficient management of watersheds through this digital platform, we’re demonstrating the transformative power of technology. Our aim is to inspire and lead by example, proving that digital innovation can significantly enhance public services and environmental stewardship alike,” added Refuerzo.
ADVT.
