2nd Philippine Water Challenge

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

The Philippine Water Challenge (PhlWC) is a platform to generate promising innovations, support improvements and promote scale-up of application of such innovations. The Water Challenge is organized by USAID Safe Water Project in collaboration with the Philippine Disaster Resilience Foundation (PDRF), Manila Water Company, Inc., and Maynilad Water Services, Inc.

The terms and conditions apply at all stages of the competition, from its opening on August 31, 2022 through when the prizes and follow-up coaching had been provided, and an evaluation of the competition is completed.

Complete Information on the competition including what entails to participate in it can be seen through PhlWC webpage. Ensure to read the eligibility parameters, evaluation criteria, and how to apply and submit your application.

Please read these terms and conditions carefully before submitting an application or entry to the PhlWC. You accept all the terms and conditions indicated here when you submit your application or entry on behalf of yourself as individual applicant or your organization. By accepting these, you confirm that you have the authorization to accept and agree with these terms and conditions on behalf of any of your partners, and other participants included in your application, and the responsibility in ensuring compliance of your partners with these terms and conditions remain on you and/or your organization.

General Terms and Conditions 

  1. The lead applicant of any entry, if representing an organization, should be designated as an authorized person to submit on behalf of the said organization. This designation shall be supported by a certification from the Board Secretary for organizational applicants. For individual applicants, a similar certification shall be provided and government-issued ID. The lead applicant must comply with, and ensure that its partners also comply with, these terms and conditions.
  2. Large water service providers (with service connections of at least 30,000) are not eligible to apply.
  3. The applicant can submit one entry and must shoulder all the costs of entering and participating in the PhlWC including documentation and travel costs, and other out of pocket expenses.
  4. The applicant shall ensure that all information submitted are true, accurate and complete, and your water solution is the applicant’s original idea and not copied or borrowed from any other individuals or organizations.
  5. The applicant shall ensure that the entry submitted will not violate any intellectual property or other third-party rights or break any contractual obligation. The applicant’s entry will be disqualified if PhlWC receives notice or information that your entry infringes any third-party rights.
  6. The applicant shall comply with all instructions set out by PhlWC with regards to the applicant’s participation.
  7. The PhlWC retains the right to disregard or not to accept late entries such as those that are lost, incomplete, damaged, or late due to computer, network or telecommunications failure based on third party phone or data networks.
  8. Only entries received within the set deadline of submission will be initially assessed or pre-screened if it fits the eligibility parameters and challenge theme. Pre-screening will be undertaken by USAID Safe Water and PDRF. If your entry is deemed eligible, the Screening Committee will then evaluate the applications/entries based on the PhlWC Evaluation Criteria. The Screening Committee selects the winners for endorsement to the Board of Jurors. The endorsed entries will be further evaluated by the Board of Jurors and select the final competition winners. Please refer to the screening and evaluation process.
  9. The prizes awarded to the winners will be released to the winners subject to conditions that will be agreed between PhlWC and the winner. See no. 10 for details.
  10. The winning applicant shall enter into a written agreement with the PhlWC organizers before funds will be awarded. The prize money is intended to fund further development and/or implementation of your winning water solution as described in your application and cannot be used for other purposes. Monitoring shall be undertaken by the PhlWC and the winning applicant shall comply with all the requirements based on the written agreement, which includes but not limited to providing information on prize money utilization, and progress of the improvements and/or implementation of your winning water solution. If the applicant fails to comply with the provisions of the PhlWC award agreement, the PhlWC reserves the right to decline your entry to future competitions.
  11. The PhlWC reserves the right on its own discretion to disqualify applicants from the competition if the applicants and/or its partners do not comply with these terms and conditions, or fail to participate fully or do anything to damage the reputation of the PhlWC organizers, partners, and sponsors/donors.

Use of Personal Information (Privacy Policy)

For information on how the USAID Safe Water and PDRF will use personal information obtained for the competition, the PhlWC will ensure compliance with the relevant provisions of the Philippine Data Privacy Act.

Intellectual Property Rights

  1. The PhlWC cannot be held liable for the misuse of intellectual property by an applicant and has no obligation to verify legal and proper use of intellectual property rights.
  2. The applicants should apply or claim their intellectual property rights before they submit their applications to the PhlWC (if such rights are applicable).
  3. The applicants shall indemnify the PhlWC organizers against any third-party cause of action based on the claim that ideas, names and/or knowledge used by the applicants infringe intellectual property rights.
  4. The PhlWC is not obliged to check the applications regarding the authorized and legal use of intellectual property rights.

Limitation of Liability or Disclaimers

  1. Safe Water Project, PDRF and its partners are not liable for information submitted by applicants through the PhlWC application email address.
  2. The organizers of PhlWC do not perform independent verification of facts or investigation of submitted water solutions. However, the PhlWC ensure reliability of facts based on the documentations submitted by the applicants. The PhlWC is not liable for any damage or any loss of any kind or nature caused by, but not limited to, negligence, misrepresentation of facts, disclosure or non-disclosure of information, of an investment and/or grant received by applicants as a result of information provided by the PhlWC.
  3. The PhlWC takes reasonable steps to ensure that the confidential information is not disclosed by any contacting party, third party and/or investor. However, neither the PhlWC, nor its group members, directors or staff shall be liable – either collective or individually – for any indirect, special, incidental, punitive or consequential damages, arising out of the disclosure of confidential information incurred by any contracting party, member or any kind of person introduced by or through the PhlWC.
  4. To the extent permitted by applicable law, the PhlWC organizers exclude all liability for any direct or indirect loss or liability, costs, claims, taxes, charges or expenses arising from the applicant’s participation in the PhlWC or the applicant’s reliance on statements made or advice given by the PhlWC organizers.

Non-Disclosure and Use of Information

  1. All information on the applicants, their applications (water solutions), investors and other individuals issued, or displayed by the PhlWC or by other individuals is confidential.
  2. Confidential information such as, but not limited to, water solutions applications, personal profiles, financial documents, and other submitted documentations shall not be passed on to anyone, neither intentionally nor unintentionally, without prior written consent of the author or owner of that information.
  3. All parties will refrain from divulging or using any information, knowledge or ideas that discussed during any private or public meetings with applicants and other entities, to anybody.
  4. The PhlWC does not take any responsibility for any unsolicited documents or information provided to them.
  5. All parties shall ensure that confidential information is only used for the following: a) organizing the PhlWC; b) conducting screening/assessment or providing coaching and/or feedback on behalf of the PhlWC; and c) preparing to enter into an agreement to provide grant and/or investment. All confidential information will only be passed on to third parties with a written consent from the applicant or owner of the information.
  6. All parties shall ensure that any colleagues, advisers, or volunteers that are called upon for assistance will also abide by these rules.

Publicity and Promotion

  1. If and when the PhlWC carry out publicity and promotion activities in relation to the competition, the applicant including the organization you represent agrees to the use of your name and your organization and partners’ names and summary of your water solution/s in such activities in any form of media including online. You and your partners may be asked to participate in any other promotional activities organized by the- PhlWC. Any concerns on confidentiality of your entry should be indicated within the terms of your entry and will be considered by the PhlWC.
  2. Any statements made in public by you and your partners in relation to the PhlWC, USAID Safe Water, PDRF and its partners should be duly acknowledged with their written approval.

Governing Law and Forum

These terms and conditions shall be governed by and interpreted in accordance with the laws of the Republic of the Philippines and the applicant hereby submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Philippine courts.

Changes in the Terms and Conditions

We may revise these Terms and Conditions from time to time to indicate changes to relevant laws, new regulatory requirements, or improvements made to our competition. Variations will take effect from the date they are posted on the PhlWC webpage. Applicants should regularly check to see the current version.

Contact Information

If you have further questions or clarifications, contact us: philwaterchallenge@gmail.com.