On August 6 2014, Phil Torio, PhD Candidate at IRES and EDGES member, gave a public lecture on Water Regulation at the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) Regulatory Office in Quezon City, the Philippines.

Phil was involved in the Metro Manila water privatization program in 1997. He worked for both private and public institutions involved in the privatization program. He was a senior officer of the winning bid consortium and service provider of the West Zone, a member of the government panel that re-privatized a water concession, and a government official of an agency helping a new water supply facility for Metro Manila. He has completed graduate programs in multiple disciples, including a Master of Arts in Asia Pacific Policy Studies from the University of British Columbia, a Master in Public Administration from Harvard University, a Master in Management from the Asia Institute of Management, and a Master of Engineering from the University of the Philippines.