The state of water resources in the Philippines - Greenpeace

“…Fragmentation among water-related agencies is evident in three areas of
concern: water supply and distribution, economic and resource regulation, and
planning and policy formulation.”
In a report, Dayrit mentioned the following agencies that are involved in water
supply and distribution:
• the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage Services (MWSS) and its two
concessionaires (after it was privatized in 1997) for Metro Manila;
• the Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA) and its water district offices
for other cities and municipalities, servicing 58 percent of the total urban
population within its area of responsibility; and
• the Departments of Interior and Local Government (DILG) and Public
Works and Highway (DPWH) and local governments which manage
community water systems (usually involving point sources and piped
systems with communal faucets).
In addition, private systems, mostly residential areas and industrial parks which
have their own systems installed, have to regulate themselves since there are no
existing laws or regulations that govern performance of public utilities.
Based on the paper, Formulation of a National Water Vision, Dayrit identified the
following agencies that have the same function as resource regulators:
• The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) formulates
policies for the enforcement of environmental protection and pollution
control regulations. It is primarily responsible for the preservation of
watershed areas and ensures water quality with respect to rivers, streams
and other sources of water.
• The Department of Health (DOH) is responsible for drinking water quality
regulation and supervision of general sanitation activities.
According to this report, a similar function as resource regulator is also performed
by LGUs, as the Local Government Code of 1991 (Republic Act No. 7160)
devolved to local governments the power to discharge functions and
responsibilities of national agencies and offices such as the provision of basic
services and facilities including water supply systems (Section 17).
Numerous agencies are involved in planning and policy formulation, which
include the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA), NWRB, LWUA
and local government units. NEDA serves as the highest socio-economic
planning and policymaking agency of government. It ensures that programs of
government agencies are consistent with the government programs as laid out in
the Medium-term Development Plan, the Long-term Development Plan (also
known as Plan 21) and the Medium-term Public Investment Programme.
The National Irrigation Administration (NIA), the National Power Corporation
(NPC) and the Department of Energy are also involved in planning and water
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