The Executive branch is targeting to set up two separate agencies that will regulate the Philippine water sector following the supply crisis that hounded residents and business establishments in Metro Manila and nearby areas in recent days.
Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles said on Thursday that several departments have already agreed to endorse for approval and submission to the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council of two draft bills, which will create an agency focused on economic and financial regulation, and another which would be responsible for policy formulation and resource regulation.
“One of the proposed agencies that will be formed will act as the apex body for the water-resources sector. This agency will consolidate and reconcile water-related policy, planning and programming mandates of the different agencies involved in water-resource management. It will likewise ensure the efficient allocation of water resources across sectors,” Nograles said in a statement.
He added the second body will be an independent and quasi-judicial body for water supply and sanitation. The office will ensure quality performance of water concessionaires and ensure transparency and predictability in economic regulation of water-service providers.
Moreover, agencies have also agreed during the high-level interagency meeting last Wednesday that the national government should spearhead efforts to optimize water resources, which are expected to become more limited with the onset of El Niño.
“There is a need for a government-led policy for the sustainable optimization of water resources. For instance, the water run-off used by hydro power plants to move their turbines, we are just throwing it to the river,” he said.
“What’s absurd is that the households near and along those rivers, they have no water for domestic use. Aside from households, we should find a way to make use of run-off water from hydro power plants to water farms and industries,” Nograles added.
As for the short-term measures, Nograles assured the public that the National Water Resources Board (NWRB) will be activating standby wells designated for use during natural disasters.
“There are a total of 109 of these wells in National Capital Region, and the NWRB will work with the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System [MWSS] to identify which wells can be tapped, and to ensure that water quality in these wells is evaluated and constantly monitored,” he said.
He also said a draft executive order (EO) strengthening the NWRB and addressing the fragmented water sector is now being crafted.
The Cabinet official earlier noted that one of the provisions of the proposed EO will include the reconstitution of the NWRB under the Office of the President to ensure that all 30-plus agencies involved in water resource management are on the same page.
The NWRB is currently under the supervision of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources by virtue of EO 123, Series of 2002.
“Currently there are 30 or so agencies involved in water resources management. There are four agencies involved in resource assessment, four involved in policy, seven in water supply, four in sanitation, five in water quality management, and six in watershed management,” he said.
“There is no single repository of water data, and no regularly updated water availability data. This is an untenable situation,” Nograles said.
On Tuesday night, President Duterte threatened to fire officials of MWSS and terminate the government’s contracts with private water concessionaires Maynilad and Manila Water over the water crisis.
The President has also ordered officials to submit a report on the water shortage before April 7, after which the President will decide “whether heads will roll” or “whether the contracts will be terminated.”