Together for Water: WRC strengthens ties with Belgian Partners

On March 17, 2026, WRC participated in the celebration of the 80th Anniversary of the Philippine-Belgium Relations and World Water Day 2026 through an event entitled “Together For Water”. The evening was graced by the presence of the Ambassador of Belgium to the Philippines, the Honorary Consul in Cebu, the Mayor of Cebu City, Better With Water and its founder, the Belgian-Filipino Business Chamber, and the European Chamber of Commerce, among many others, held at Atúa Midtown, Cebu City. 

Ambassador Vladislava Iordanova and Mr. Adrien Pellequer, the Country Director for Better With Water, welcomed the guests with opening messages promoting public awareness of water-related issues, showcasing individuals’ daily lives with water, and sharing concrete solutions and services for a safer and healthier Cebu. Cebu City Mayor Hon. Nestor Archival also delivered an opening remark to the guests with relevance to providing assistance and taking tangible action toward becoming a more sustainable, smart, and inclusive city.

A poster exhibit of Project CARAQCOL, a 5-year academic research project between the University of San Carlos, WRC, University of Mons, and the University of Catholique de Louvain, was presented by PhD Candidate Engr. Clofer Suson and Project Coordinator Dr. Amando Radomes Jr. The full title of the research project is “From groundwater to water consumption: Multidisciplinary ChARacterization to support sustainable AQuifer exploitation in the COastaL metropolitan area of the Philippines (CARAQCOL). The primary goal of the research is to strengthen groundwater expertise to address critical needs within the Cebu water sector, through a collaborative, multi-stakeholder, and multidisciplinary knowledge-building process, was discussed, and queries about the project were addressed. 

The event wrapped up with cross-sector networking, allowing professionals, researchers, business leaders and government officials to connect, accompanied by an exclusive viewing of the photo exhibition. The photographs taken by Linus Escandor II showing communities in Bacoor, Las Piñas, and Noveleta, Cavite evoke insights and dialogue among viewers on the current water crisis in the Philippines,