Water Environment Partnership in Asia (WEPA)
Summary of the Workshop focusing on “Industrial Wastewater Management”

A group workshop was conducted as one of the participatory activities in the WEPA
Annual Meeting, held in Vansana Riverside Hotel, Vientiane Capital, and Lao P.D.R on
the 25th January 2016.

1. Introductory presentation on each topic
Three cases of approaches are introduced by report presentations from Japan,
Thailand and the Philippines respectively, which are recognized to enhance theindustries’ compliance.
First of all, As Approach A “Law enforcement by Local Government Units (LGUs)”,
Engr. Toshiyuki Obe, Advisor, Assistant Director, Mie Prefecture Government, Japan
explained “On-site Inspection and Administrative Direction to Business Establishment”
based on the actual experience.
He explained the case of environmental conservation by the local regulations andordinances, such as “Pollution prevention Ordinance”, that is more stringent thannational Water Pollution Control Law and related effluent standards, etc.
Focusing on the on-site inspection, he introduced practical know-how andcommunication between plant owners and so on. System and process starting fromadministrative direction to punishment were also introduced.
In the Q&A session, difference between ordinance and guideline, and characteristicsof the system of “Pollution Control Agreement” were asked as questions.

As for Approach B “Enhancement of Support to LGUs by Central Government”,
Dr. Chayawee Wangcharoenrung, Director, Industrial wastewater Division, Pollution
Control Department, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment of Thailand
presented “Enhancing Local Enforcement by Central Government in Thailand”.
Efforts especially targeting at small and community based industry was introduced.
“Process standard” is appreciated as effective and reasonable method of pollution
control because the local governments check the environmental performance ofindustries without effluent sampling and so on.
Finally, the presenter introduced a Thailand case of releasing a guideline of Best
Practical Control Technology (BPT) manual. It is actively utilized by many local
governments as the actual handbook during the measurement operation as well as
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instructional materials of seminars & workshops.
In the Q&A session, definition of small scale industry in Thailand and which Ministry
is mainly responsible for controlling pollution were asked as questions.

Regarding Approach C “Raising industries’ incentives”, Engr. Erlinda A. Gonzales,
Technical Officer, Environmental Management Bureau, Department of Environment
and Natural Resources (DENR) introduced “Philippine Environmental Partnership
Program (PEPP)”. PEPP is a DENR Partnership Program with Industries, incooperation with other environment-related agencies. The program aims to encourage
and support establishments to adopt self-regulation for improved environmental
performance through the provision of regulatory assistance and other incentives.
She also mentioned rating system in the Philippines called “Eco Watch” that is public
disclosure program where the industrial and commercial establishments are rated withcorresponding six colors in accordance with their environmental performance. Criteria
and characteristics of each ranking category were summarized.

Next to above three presentations, on behalf of the hosting organization, Mr.
Sengkeo Tasaketh, Technical Officer, Pollution Management Division, Pollution Control
Department, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment made a presentation of“Status of Industrial Wastewater Management in Lao P.D. R.”
He introduced the currently revised institutional strategies for promoting industry’s’compliance and management, such as installation of wastewater treatment facility,introduction of Best Available Technology (BAT) in the treatment system, selfmonitoring report system.
After revision, situation of violation of treatment wastewater quality has been
improved.

2. Summary Presentation of each group workshop
Group A was consisted of Cambodia, China, Korea, Malaysia, Lao P.D.R and Japan.
Facilitation was done by Mr. Sengkeo Tasaketh, Technical Officer, Pollution
Management Division, Pollution Control Department, Ministry of Natural Resourcesand Environment, Lao P.D.R.
In most of countries of Group A, “approval” and “permission” are belong to Central
Government. Local government depends in large part administrative works on Central
Government and therefore, there are short of capacity on law enforcement.
Toward the law enforcement by Local Government Units (LGUs), the following
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approaches were raised as best practices on water management in the group
discussion; Capacity Building (Training, Seminar and Technical supporter by Central
Government), Laboratory analysis, Self-regulation, Pubic participation, Improving lawand regulation, Enhancement of law enforcement, Funding/Support from CentralGovernment to Local Government, Incentive, Third party monitoring/Independence,
Technology (Best Valuable Technology).
These approaches are need to be struggled with, however, at the same time theway of practice for each approach should be clarified in respective WEPA partnercompanies.

In the Discussion session, Group B, consisting of participants from Myanmar, Nepal,
Thai, Lao P.D.R. and Japan, and facilitated by Dr. Chayawee Wangcharoenrung,Director, Industrial wastewater Division, Pollution Control Department focused on theways of enhancement of support to local governments by Central Government.
In Myanmar, new ministerial system has just started its operation and detailed laws
and plans will be fulfilled from now on.
Apart from that, still there is a tendency of talking about common problems of “Nomoney” and “No human resources” in any discussions, however, what we can get out
with a new idea – by changing the standpoint -- were searched.
Taking an example, the position of Local government for environmental protection
is quite powerful in tourist areas.
For conclusion, effective ways for the supporting Local governments were extracted
such as: decentralization, establishment of environmental monitoring system, freedom
information disclosure by media, and educational support system and so on. Releaseof a technical guideline for Local governments are really practical tools.

In the Group discussion, Group C, consisting of participants from the Philippines,
Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Lao P.D.R. and Japan, and facilitated by Dr. Vicente Tuddao, Jr.,
Director, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, identified 9 incentivesystems inducing tax reduction, Recognition/reward, Eco labeling and so on andanalyzed good effects, difficulties and shared good practices in the group for eachsystem. Finally they identified factors / conditions to enhance effectiveness of existing
system, for example as for eco-labeling, such as information campaign, transparency
simplified administrative procedure, and strict monitoring and so on were identified.

3. Closing Session
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At last, the venue invited two comments from Dr. Motoyuki Suzuki, Professor
Emeritus, The University of Tokyo and from Mr. Masaki Suehisa, Deputy Director,
Water Environment Division, Environmental Management Bureau, Ministry of theEnvironment, Japan in the Closing Session.
Dr. Suzuki suggested that the key administrative institutions of environmental
protection should grasp how much and what quality of water are used in which industry,what kind of method are applied for wastewater treatment facility and so on for current
and future industrial wastewater management.
In the end, Mr. Suehisa appreciated the intensive whole day activity contributed bythe participants.

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