Slovenia launches landmark ₱3M green tech and hygiene project in Antique
The signing cermony was attended by Antique Governor Paolo Everardo Javier, San Jose de Buenavista Mayor Paul Joseph Untaran, Deputy Head of Mission of the Embassy of Slovenia Dragan Barbutovski and local & national representatives of Antique. | Author San Jose de Buenavista LGU
The landmark partnership was formalised through a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) signed by Deputy Head of Mission of the Embassy of Slovenia in Manila Dragan Barbutovski and San Jose de Buenavista Mayor Paul Joseph Untaran, witnessed by Antique Governor Paolo Everardo Javier. The initiative directly benefits Antique National High School (ANS), the province's largest public school with approximately 7,600 students.
Three pioneering firsts for bilateral relations
1. Slovenia’s first ODA project in the Philippines, aligning green technology with local development priorities.
2. The first deployment of Slovenian green tech system in the country, introducing disaster-resilient water management technology.
3. The region’s first direct WASH-CSE training for educators, empowering teachers to build lasting health and hygiene awareness.
Representing Slovenian Ambassador to the Philippines Dr Smiljana Knez, Deputy Head of Mission Dragan Barbutovski emphasized the urgency and diplomatic vision behind the initiative: "This project perfectly aligns with a shared priority close to both our nations' hearts: combating climate change through sustainable water and natural resource management. This technology is uniquely built for the Philippines as it will ensure that it withstands the harsh conditions that Antique province faces regularly due to its exposure to landslides, typhoons and earthquakes. By uniting innovative green engineering with grassroots educational empowerment, Slovenia is proud to stand alongside San Jose de Buenavista, our local partners, teachers, and students to build a cleaner, healthier, and more resilient future."
MOA was signed by San Jose de Buenavista Mayor Paul Joseph Untaran and Deputy Head of Mission of the Embassy of Slovenia in Manila Dragan Barbutovski | Author San Jose de Buenavista LGU
Cutting-edge technology meets educational impact
The initiative centres on installing the 'Roto RoClean wastewater treatment system', developed by Slovenia’s ROTO Group, a premier European environmental technology leader with over 50 years of expertise.
Advanced purification: Uses automated, natural biological processes in timed cycles to remove up to 98% of organic pollutants, discharging clean, safe water into local ecosystems.
Disaster resilient: Encased in a single-piece, seamless shell built specifically to withstand severe floods, typhoon winds, and seismic activity without cracking or leaking.
Local operations & long-term impact: ROTO is partnering with Manila-based Touchcore for installation, alongside Plan International Pilipinas, who will train 30 lead educators as certified WASH and Comprehensive Sexuality Education (WASH-CSE) Focal Persons using the digital Oky app. The impact on these young learners will be transformative, combating period poverty, absenteeism and stigma for girls through climate-resilient facilities, WASH-Boxes and bias-free education while reducing waterborne illness risks and fostering gender equality, consent and bodily autonomy awareness for boys.
The project will benefit the Antique National School. The waste water treatment system will be located in the school premises. | Author San Jose de Buenavista LGU
Local endorsement and provincial impact
Mayor Paul Joseph Untaran commended the Slovenian Government for bringing high-performance European green technology to San Jose de Buenavista to strengthen municipal climate resilience. He welcomed the project as a concrete demonstration of progressive local governance and international partnership that strengthens the capital town’s role as a model for climate-resilient infrastructure and student welfare in the province.
Governor Paolo Everardo Javier highlighted the project's broader provincial value, noting that combining climate-resilient infrastructure with health education safeguards Antique’s youth and environment. He framed the initiative as a catalyst for region-wide environmental standards, stressing that the international assistance from Slovenia must be treated as a shared local responsibility to deliver lasting environmental, public health, and economic benefits for future generations of Antiqueños.
Roger Jomolo, Principal of Antique National High School (ANS), emphasised the immediate practical benefits: "It is an environment-friendly technology that could also help us conserve water. Water treated from the facility will be used in gardening and to flush the toilets of the school with around 7,000 learners. Currently, the water needs of ANS are costing around ₱100,000 per month. With the wastewater treatment plant, the school expects to significantly reduce its monthly water bill, freeing up vital resources for student development."