NAST Phl Gears Up for Good Water Governance in the Philippines

Guada B. Ramos and Dexter L.A. Bautista

The National Academy of Science and Technology, Philippines (NAST PHL) spearheaded the Roundtable Discussion (RTD) on Water Rights and Water Wrongs: Towards Good Water Governance for Development, with the Social Sciences Division at the helm through Academician Agnes Rola, who served as the focal person for the event. The activity was conducted at the Le Salon, Hyatt Hotel Manila, 26 January 2012.

Academician Emil Q. Javier, president of NAST Phl and chair of the 34th Annual Scientific Meeting (ASM) welcomed the participants led by the Philippine Water Czar, Honorable Secretary Rogelio L. Singson of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH). Acd. Javier stated that as part of its advisory function, the NAST ASM takes on key national issues and brings collective expertise not only from the Academy but from the whole scientific community to address such issues. Since water is becoming a pressing national concern, NAST believed that it is timely and appropriate to dedicate this year’s ASM to water and its many challenges and implications.

Being the first in the series of RTDs in preparation for the ASM in July, this RTD aimed to clarify the current state of water governance in the Philippines and recommend ways to improve it. Experts invited were Dr. Christopher Wensley, lead water resource specialist of the Asian Development Bank (ADB), Dr. Cristina David, former Research Fellow of the Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS), Mr. Vicente Paragas, executive director of the National Water Resources Board (NWRB), Acd. Guillermo Tabios III, member of the NAST Engineering Sciences and Technology (EST) Division, Dr. Joy Lizada, dean of the College of Management, University of the Philippines Visayas (UPV), Prevelyn Gazmen, stakeholder manager of the Manila Water, and Dr. Ma Helen Dayo, director of the Gender Center of the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB). Dr. Felino Lansigan of the Institute of Statistics, UPLB, acted as the moderator for the open forum and Dr. Juan Pulhin of the College of Forestry and Natural Resources, UPLB, synthesized the discussions.

Starting on the premise that “water is (a) human right”, Acd. Rola discussed the framework of analysis for water governance in relation to development. According to her, there is a need for (1) institutional body to govern watershed unit for its water resources and other environmental services; (2) instruments enabling efficient use of water at its highest value; and (3) broad support from local community, civil societies, and the local governments to ensure quality water management.

Dr. Wensley, on the other hand, discussed the Asian Development Bank perspectives on water resources management and water governance. ADB’s Asian Water Development Outlook of 2011 showed that household water scarcity is undermined by persuasive inequity; the region’s economic prosperity is imperilled by the poor health of 80% of its rivers; and the high disaster risk combines with low resilience can undo economic development. In order to address the global water crisis, ADB published the Water Rights and Water Allocation: The Foundation of Water Governance that tackles the issues of ensuring basic water rights, principles of allocation, managing water shortages, adapting to change, building capacity, encouraging consultation, and strengthening accountability.

Dr. David highlighted issues in water pricing. She reported that with the growing scarcity of raw water supply and increasing demand for water, there has been widespread belief since the late 1980s that appropriate water pricing is necessary for achieving allocation and management of water resources. However, the current scheme employed by local water districts and private groups like MWSS is rather incomplete. To address the growing concerns on water pricing, she suggested broadening the perspective in terms of policy, regulatory, and institutional instruments, to achieve overall objectives of improving water resource management, beyond just pricing. She also recommended an appropriate mix of public and private provision and management of water resources and greater user participation in decision making and actual management.

Mr. Paragas reported that there are more than 30 agencies in the Philippines managing water resources resulting in fragmentation and sectoral approach in water management. Due to the existing legal framework, there are overlapping and unclear delineation of roles and responsibilities. The present situation shows a need to improve the current management of water resources. Mr. Paragas proposed programs to improve water governance such as the (1) establishment of science-based decision support systems including climate change impacts models in the conduct of water resources assessment towards improved policies and decision making, (2) conduct research on water efficiency, alternative water management technologies and water accounting specially for irrigation use and promote its implementation; (3) review of the Water Code of the Philippines for possible amendment to be responsive to current issues and challenges; (4) implementation of policies on the issuance of Water Permit in critical areas; (5) partnership with government agencies and LGUs on the monitoring of compliance of the Water Code of the Philippines; (6) deputation of the DENR regional officers to bring NWRB nearer to the people; and (7) advocacy on river basin management.

Considering the current status, challenges, and issues of the country’s water resources, Acd. Tabios recommended the creation of a National Water Resources Management Council (NWRMC), which will include all existing agencies that have a stake in water resources and unite them into a single agency chaired by the President of the Republic of the Philippines. This council is expected to manage and protect the country’s water resources for domestic water supply, sanitation, irrigation, hydropower, fisheries, aquaculture, flood control, navigation, and recreation including the enhancement and maintenance of water quality, conservation of watersheds, control of water pollution and environment restoration without compromising the natural ecosystem functions and services.

Dr. Lizada showcased the Metro Iloilo Water District and discussed the controversies confronting it. She talked about the initiatives on water resource management of the Tigum Aganan Watershed Management Board (TAWMB) as the supply side and the Metro Iloilo Water District (MIWD) as the demand side.

Ms. Gazmen recognized that the poor are most vulnerable to water supply problems. Manila Water initiated a program called Tubig Para sa Barangay (TPSB) to be able to provide water for the poor in urban communities. The program reduces high systems losses for Manila Water, and at the same time, it addresses the water needs of low-income communities. This initiative was commended by National Scientist Gelia Castillo during the open forum, who also suggested that maybe this can be replicated in more areas.

Dr. Dayo shared her work with the communities around Mt. Banahaw and its impact on gender relations including their struggle for the common property water resources coming from the mountain. Water scarcity is becoming a source of conflict in this rural area. The water concerns can be seen as a precautionary tale that shows how gender, institutions or religion and identity-related struggles unfolded in the rich environmental history of Mt. Banahaw.

In the end, Dr. Pulhin summarized the presentations by stating the basic premise of the discussion. He reiterated that water is a human right and a building block of development. He further added that Water RIGHTS involve water as valuable resource that is increasingly becoming scarce. It is an institution that covers the custom, behavioural patterns and rules that define access, use and management. On the other hand, Water WRONGS involve weak policy implementation, poor water quantity and quality, lack in coordination, capacity, and resources among the agencies and stakeholders involved. He added that existing policies do not mention climate change. The need to include environmental costs for appropriate pricing mechanism was emphasized. In terms of governance, a disparity between theory and practice including lack of science and technology-based decision-making was noted and should be addressed.

This is the first of a series of RTDs focusing on water issues and leading to the conduct of the 34th Annual Scientific Meeting (ASM) in July 2012.