Background
The Ministry of Public Works and Transport (MPWT) oversees national policy and technical oversight of urban drainage infrastructure through its General Directorate of Drainage and Sewerage. Urban drainage systems collect and convey stormwater to reduce flood risk and protect urban public health and infrastructure. On 14 August 2026 MPWT State Secretary Ros Vanna convened technical staff from the General Directorate and JICA advisers to review a concept for establishing a recurring national awareness event called “Drainage System Day” linked to a capacity-development project for Phnom Penh administration and MPWT.
The project team cited Japan’s public-engagement models and proposed adapting those approaches to Cambodia’s social and climatic context. The meeting noted a proposal to anchor the awareness day on 22 November, the anniversary of the 2024 law on drainage systems, and recommended inclusion of public education measures — including potential curriculum elements — to support long-term behaviour change and water-quality protection.
Key Developments
On 14 August 2026 MPWT officials and JICA specialists held a technical discussion to review draft ideas for the “Drainage System Day.” Participants included State Secretary Ros Vanna, departmental directors and technical staff from the General Directorate of Drainage and Sewerage, and JICA project experts. The team recommended selecting 22 November—the anniversary of the 2024 drainage-systems law—as the event date to provide legal and historical framing for the initiative.
Policy Context
The 2024 Law on Drainage Systems establishes a legal basis for national-level measures on drainage management and public engagement; the proposed awareness day was tied explicitly to that anniversary. Project documents presented during the meeting linked public outreach to measurable objectives such as improved water quality awareness and reduced health costs resulting from poor urban drainage.
Institutional Role
MPWT provided technical leadership through its General Directorate of Drainage and Sewerage, while the Phnom Penh administration was identified as the immediate local partner for urban implementation. JICA participated as a cooperating technical partner during the concept review, offering comparative examples and capacity-development support for outreach and technical standards.
