The creation of the Water Resources Management Office (WRMO) as a transitory body pending the creation of a Water Resource Department is seen to help improve the country’s water supply management, according to the European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (ECCP).
Earlier this month, President Marcos Jr. approved the creation of the WRMO under the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to respond to the current environmental challenges and manage water resources through a concerted government effort.
In a statement, the ECCP said the government should also approach the country’s water resource planning using an Integrated Water Resource Management (IWRM) framework.
ECCP said the IWRM is an internationally recognized framework, based on the idea that water issues should not be approached in isolation but in a more holistic manner due to the interdependence of the uses of finite water resources to guide countries on their journey to water security.
“We remain committed to working with the government and other stakeholders in resolving the current water-related issues in the country. The ECCP, together with its Environment and Water Committee, strongly advocates for regular multi-stakeholder engagements to be institutionalized to allow exchange of insights, facilitate coordination and come up with effective solutions on water-related issues,” the group said.
ECCP urged the government to establish a multi-stakeholder advisory panel under the WRMO with representation from the private sector, academe and civil society “to serve as an additional soundboard for the said office in the crafting and implementation of policies, programs and projects for the water sector in line with IWRM’s principle of participatory governance.”
The group said this will help in promoting more synergy with public-private partnerships as it leads and encourages the establishment of investments, technology, benchmarking and sharing of best practices resulting in the improvement of the water sector.
Despite the support for the WRMO, ECCP said there is a need for the government to come up with the “long overdue” creation of an overseeing body for water resources.
“We believe that having an executive water department tasked to harmonize and monitor all water-related efforts will provide strategic direction which would not only help in solving water scarcity in the country but would also aid in the establishment and operation of businesses as well as attract new investors. We hope that the current interest from the government will be sustained and bring the much-needed changes in the water sector into fruition,” ECCP said.
Last October, DENR Secretary Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga said they are leading the crafting of a roadmap for water security that is expected to be the basis in the creation of an umbrella body that will manage all water-related issues of the country. – Jed Macapagal
