NEDA bats for creation of water resources agency

MANILA, Philippines — The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) underscored the need to establish a Department of Water Resources and a Water Regulatory Commission (WRC) for the country to achieve water security.

In a policy note, the NEDA cited the need to have a unified framework for water governance and regulation, as well as improved  infrastructure planning and management of water through the creation of the Department of Water Resources and WRC.

“In light of the challenges our country is experiencing under a fast-changing climate, the push for sound water governance is more urgent than ever before. As outlined in the Philippine Development Plan 2023 to 2028, our strategies are aimed at strengthening water security, ecological integrity and resilience to hazards by improving water governance through integrated water resource management,” NEDA Secretary Arsenio Balisacan said.

Balisacan said improved governance is also aligned with the Integrated Water Resources Management Plan, which aims to ensure access to sufficient water supply.

While the Philippines is rich in water resources, the NEDA said there is uneven access to water supply in the country.

Even with 97.6 percent of Filipino families using improved drinking water sources and 84 percent having access to basic sanitation services, the Philippines still lags behind its Southeast Asian neighbors in terms of access to basic sanitation services.

Access to these services is highest in Singapore at 100 percent, followed by Malaysia (99.7 percent), Vietnam (96 percent), Brunei (94 percent) and Cambodia (88 percent).

The country’s rising population, which is driving higher water demand, is also increasing the risk of water scarcity.

Without significant changes in water management, the NEDA warned that parts of the country would have to endure extreme water stress by 2050.

Overlapping and conflicting mandates in water governance also  hamper government efforts to improve water service delivery and resource protection.

“Without a central agency responsible for water policy, there is a heavy reliance on ad hoc coordination. Conflicting priorities among agencies result in uncoordinated planning and strategies, as well as inconsistencies in the enforcement of water policies and standards,” Balisacan said.

“Our push for the creation of a central entity in the water sector will also help us institutionalize the collection and consolidation of water-related data that will help us produce more informed assessments and formulate smarter solutions in the utilization and management of our resources,” he added.

The NEDA has been pushing for the passage of the bill seeking to create the Department of Water Resources.

A priority measure of the Marcos administration, the bill was approved on third and final reading at the House of Representatives in December, while the Senate version is still pending.