Pakse, Lao PR, December 10, 2024, – Pakse City officially launched Outcome 3 of ‘Scaling Out Sustainable Solid Waste and Wastewater Management to Improve Public Health and Environment in Lao PDR’. In partnership with GGGI, the Ministry of Planning and Investment (MPI), Ministry of Public Works and Transport, Department of Public Works and Transport of Champasak, and KOICA, the second phase of the project seeks to expand wastewater treatment infrastructure and improve access to enhanced urban sanitation services for Pakse residents.

Building on the successes of Phase I, namely ‘Wastewater and Solid Waste Treatment Capacity Building Project for City Environment Improvement in Lao PDR,’ Pakse City plans to build two additional Decentralized Wastewater Treatment Systems for Phase II, responding to the needs of local residents and addressing the city’s growing wastewater management issue. The project has also provided support in developing the new Fecal Sludge Management Regulation and Wastewater Tariff, which are both going through the approval process, to ensure sustainable operation of these wastewater facilities through Phase I. The regulatory frameworks will support Pakse City in taking a step forward in improving institutional capacity for wastewater treatment once endorsed.

Mr. Lienthong Souphany, Deputy Director General of the Department of Planning, Ministry of Planning and Investment said that improving “The urban sanitation has always been considered as one of the priorities of the Government of Lao PDR with the efforts for development of the economy and society and environmental protection. The first project phase valued USD 6.5 million from KOICA was implemented to improve the urban environment by enhancing wastewater treatment facilities in Pakse City, and it has immensely contributed to enhancing the wastewater treatment of and greening Pakse city.”

Transitioning into phase II, the project will build upon and replicate the previous ambition and outcomes, in particular, it will focus on expanding access to sanitation services in Pakse. The project outputs and outcomes factually are linked to the city environmental protection and sanitation improvement for public health, which directly contributes to implementing the national plans, namely, the 9th National Socio-Economic Development Plan (NSEDP), Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC to the Paris Agreement), and the National Green Growth Strategy (NGGS).

“Now we are looking at the start of an additional 5-year project value USD 10.5 million, which started from late 2023. The major activities include establishing two new DEWATS in Pakse. The Regulation and Tariff from the first phase will be crucial to guarantee the sustainability of these facilities. Thus, I cannot highlight enough the importance to implement in parallel – getting the regulation and tariff endorsed on one hand and initiating the second phase on the other hand.” Said Mr. Basy Phonekeo, Deputy Director General of the Department of Public Works and Transport (DPWT) Champasak Province.

Ms. Jeongyi Choi, Deputy Country Director, KOICA ended the workshop, providing the importance of the project “Effective wastewater and waste management are no longer optional; they are essential for our survival. The way we manage waste today will define the future of our cities, our environment, and our livelihoods. Waste management is an indispensable part of our collective fight against climate change. It is integral to public health, environmental sustainability, and the resilience of our communities to the growing climate challenges we face.” She also resonated how this project adds value to KOICA’s commitment to green growth stating that: “We stand here at a crossroads, where the decisions we make about waste, sanitation, and urban development today will lay the groundwork for a better tomorrow.”

Ms. Eva Diaz Ugena, GGGI’s Project Manager emphasized the importance of collaboration from all partners that led this project successful in the Phase I. She acknowledged the financial support from KOICA and active partnership and contribution of DWS of MPWT at the national level and Champasak DPWT at provincial level have been instrumental in the successful implementation of Phase I and will be the cornerstone for the implementation of Phase II in Kayson and Pakse.

This workshop marks the first step of the second phase in Pakse, allowing the project team to present an overview of the project intended outcomes and activities that will be conducted in Pakse. In this scaling up new journey, the project will implement its activities with the supervision and coordination of the Department of Planning of MPI along with active participation of the Department of Water Supply of the Ministry of Public Works and Transport from the national level, Provincial Government of Champasak, and the Municipal Government of Pakse City.