Metropolitan services company planned for Cochabamba

Foundation of a metropolitan basic services company to safeguard the sustainability of the Cochabamba environment in Bolivia is on the cards, Editorial Opinion reports. The association of townships in the area formed an ad hoc commission on Monday that will draw up a mandate for this new entity. The commission is composed of representatives from institutions such as Misicuni, Semapa, Civil Committee, Parliamentary Brigade, Irrigators Association, the University Mayor of San Simon, and the vice-ministry of basic services, in addition to the townships. Vice ministry director of basic services, Alvaro Camacho, explained the new organization is seen as the vehicle through which Bolivia can deliver on its commitments under the Millennium Declaration that the country signed in 2000, along with 188 other countries. Millennium Development Goals include to reduce by half by 2015, the percentage of people without sustainable access to potable water and to improve the lives of people that do not have access to basic sanitation. "We have to work together to obtain better results," said Camacho. Markets for services will be integrated under the proposed metropolitan company to serve the needs of several townships. Environmental protection will be promoted and incentivized through the management of the water cycle, promotion of participation of the private sector and the management and financing of services. Cochabamba department has a population in excess of 1.5 million people including 800,000 in the city of Cochabamba.