MBC Supports President Marcos’ Decision
to Create Water Office

21 February 2023 — The Makati Business Club supports President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s decision to issue an Executive Order to create a Water Resources Management Office (WRMO) to boost water supply across the country. It will do so by harmonizing and streamlining government actions and approvals: at present, as many as 30 agencies share water-related mandates, slowing down upgrades and expansion. We believe the WRMO will help address urgent issues even as we encourage Congress to pass a law creating an even more effective Department of Water.

In 2021, NEDA said 45.2% of the population relied on point sources (e.g., springs, rivers, streams, wells, peddlers, and other sources) that are susceptible to contamination.¹ Of the 54.8% who had access to safe water supply, only 15% to a piped distribution network, and 11.2% relied on a communal faucet system. NEDA said to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 6 — clean water and sanitation for all — by 2030, yearly investments of P132 billion are needed. The current rate is in the single digits.

Most water service providers are unable to deliver adequate services to a growing population, due to financial, technical, efficiency, and coverage issues. The situation is expected to reach critical levels by 2040 if the sector remains stagnant.

The 1995 Water Crisis Act helped address the situation at that time, including the awarding of Metro Manila concession agreements to private sector players in 1997, leading to vastly improved and expanded services in the capital. We are confident that a WRMO and a Department of Water can do the same for the current crisis. (END)

¹ Philippine Water Supply and Sanitation Masterplan (PWSSMP), 2021