Technical staff from the Water Authority of Fiji (WAF) today (06/10) were awarded certificates for successfully completing an Asset Management training which was facilitated by the Pacific Region Infrastructure Facility – PRIF (PRIF)
WAF Chairman, Mr. Savenaca Seniloli said that having effective asset management is crucial to achieving an efficient operation and improving WAF’s service delivery.
“Our assets, such as water treatment plants, distribution networks, and storage facilities, are critical components of our service delivery infrastructure. Therefore, we need to manage them carefully to ensure that they remain serviceable, efficient, and effective in their function to reduce repair and maintenance costs,” said Mr. Seniloli.
Also in attendance at the certificate presentation ceremony was the ADB Regional Director Mr Aaron Batten, and CEO Pacific Water and Wastewater Association Ms Lusia Sefo-Leau and the Executive Management of the Water Authority of Fiji.
WAF CEO, Dr Amit Chanan congratulated the staff and thanked them for their commitment and diligence in completing the training.
“This is a critical area and getting asset management right will ensure that WAF becomes an efficient and effective organisation in its operations” Dr Chanan expressed.
ADB Regional Director, Mr. Aaron Batten acknowledged the PWWA for implementing the asset training course.
“If you look at Fiji’s commitment toward water, it actually stands out, Fiji actually enshrines access to safe drinking water and sanitation in its constitution – it is one of the few countries in the Pacific or even in the region to have done that. When it comes to meeting these ambitions, I think Fiji too around the region has made very commendable progress in accessing water and sanitation services to its people, it has one of the most effective and broadest coverages of its networks across many countries,” said Mr Batten.
Mr. Seniloli also acknowledged that the training was made possible with funding support from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) ADB in the Pacific, the European Investment Bank (EIB) and facilitated by the Pacific Water and Wastewater Association (PWWA).