OREANDA-NEWS. Timor-Leste and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) have announced major water supply and sanitation investment plans for the towns of Baucau, Lospalos, Same, and Viqueque.

The plans, announced to coincide with World Water Day, were unveiled at a ceremony attended by the Vice Minister of Water and Electricity Januario Pereira, the Director General of Water and Sanitation, Joao Jeronimo and ADB Principal Infrastructure Specialist, Richard Phelps.. 

ADB supported the government in drafting the plans which outline the approach, costs and timeframe for rolling out water and sanitation investments needed to help the towns achieve the country’s Strategic Development Plan goal of providing all urban households with safe, reliable, 24-hour piped water supplies and improved sanitation by 2030.

‘Proposed improvements to water and sanitation will boost social and economic development in these four municipal capitals,” said Allison Woodruff, ADB project officer in Timor-Leste. “The launch of these investment plans marks a significant achievement for the 6th Constitutional Government of Timor-Leste 2015-2017.”

ADB is one of Timor-Leste’s lead development partners in the urban water supply sector. Since 2005, it has provided grants of $17 million to finance the upgrading of water supply systems in Dili, Manatuto and Pante Macasar, and $5.65 million in technical assistance grants to support policy development, investment planning, and the design of institutional reforms for the water sector. 

ADB, based in Manila, is dedicated to reducing poverty in Asia and the Pacific through inclusive economic growth, environmentally sustainable growth, and regional integration. Established in 1966, it is owned by 67 members – 48 from the region.