President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos led the inspection and inauguration of the Sum-Ag Water Treatment Plant on 19 January, marking a major milestone in improving access to safe, reliable and sustainable water supply for communities in Negros Island.

Considered one of the region’s largest water facilities, the plant is expected to deliver up to 75 million liters of potable water per day, benefiting an estimated 100,000 households or approximately 500,000 residents in Bacolod City and the Municipality of Murcia.

The Embassy of Israel in the Philippines welcomes this important development and recognizes the strong spirit of international cooperation behind the project. Marcos highlighted that the facility benefited from international expertise, including Israeli water treatment and automation technology, which supports efficient water purification, real-time monitoring and automated control to ensure a consistent, safe and reliable water supply.

Israeli innovation is proudly represented through Watermatic International, whose advanced systems reflect Israel’s globally recognized expertise in maximizing limited water resources through innovation, efficiency and sustainability.

Ambassador Dana Kursh, who joined the inauguration, expressed pride in the strong Israel–Philippines partnership, as well as in the broader international collaboration with the European Union, the Government of the Netherlands and Climate Fund Managers.

“This project reflects vision, technology, trust and the transfer of know-how. Despite having more than 60 percent of its land classified as desert, Israel learned to overcome water scarcity through innovation, including drip irrigation and advanced water technologies,” Ambassador Kursh said.

“We are proud to share Israel’s experience and practical solutions to support water and food security for Filipinos. Water is life — ang tubig ay buhay.”

The Sum-Ag Water Treatment Plant stands as a model of how innovation and partnership can deliver climate-resilient infrastructure and long-term benefits for communities.

The Embassy of Israel looks forward to continuing its close cooperation with the Philippine government and partners in advancing sustainable development, technology transfer and inclusive growth.