The Philippines is a country abundant with water. It is surrounded by oceans and seas with a multitude of bodies of water in between the more than seven thousand islands, along the rivers that flow from the vast mountain ranges, and the sources of water from down under we have yet to tap.
Truly, the country is blessed with nature’s prime resource.
The question now is, why haven’t we made the great leap forward in this aspect?
For Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA) administrator Jeci Lapus, the water system in the Philippines is fragmented.
The solution?
A lone governing body to address all water-related issues.
In a talk with Manila Standard, the former congressman shared his plans and updates on putting up a Department of Water which has now gained traction in the lower house, while giving insights on how the Philippines, a country rich with the blessing of water, can still provide sources of safe, sufficient, and affordable drinking water to a growing population amid an infrastructure-intensive thrust from the government.
Can you talk us through your proposal to put up a department of water and the main reason for this initiative?
Admin Jeci Lapus: Well, we have now a pending bill in Congress filed by the speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and this is for the creation of a department of water, irrigation, sanitation, sewage and resources. So this will unify all the agencies. The department of water will surely make it possible na meron tayong containment of rain water. We are the only country I think that does not have a department of water because after air, what is the next important thing? Water.
What is the status of the endorsed bill (Department of Water)?
It has been referred to the committee already and at the budget hearing maybe we can tackle it right after. And with the speaker being the sponsor. Well, I would surmise that the congressmen will be cooperative.
Is this bill being backed up by the President?
Wala po tayong (backing up mula) sa Malacañang, but again this is a basic necessity of every household. So there is really a need for this bill to push through. You just imagine that LWUA is only catering to 22 Million. We are only catering to 22 million Filipinos, which mean 22% of the population. So our plan is to double the connectivities in the next five years. Of course, we need the support of the national government, the congress and the senate.
What about the challenges? What are the challenges or hurdles in providing safe water for everyone?
The challenges, number one is the source of water. We are now dependent on rivers and the deep well[s], but my thinking is what is under your feet is yours. We should yet tap what is under. We should tap the surface water but because of the climate change, the rivers are now polluted. So, we can still cope-up with all the challenges but again, what is important is the funding.
What are the other pressing issues on this matter?
Ang pressing issues diyan ay number one, ‘yung quality ng water, number two the source of water. You know, we have about 520 water districts and 60% of them are below 3,000 connections and they need more funds to expand.
In this connection, if the Department of Water will be put up, will the particular issue on funding be eliminated?
We do funding (to the local water districts, yes), but again our money is coming from the national government. Or we borrow right now I have a loan with ADB which amounts to P3 billion, but that is just tip of the iceberg because we need 30 billion a year for the next five years to double the connectivities. It will not be totally resolved because no agency has enough money but at least we will have a big elbowroom to work.
Water amid the Build, Build, Build
BUILD, BUILD, BUILD, it can be construed as a total concept. When you say BUILD, BUILD, BUILD siguro for the government, it’s building the road, build the bridge but then again all the other amenities should be there. Especially water and light utilities. Only thing is that we are separate that’s why we cannot precisely unify our activities. They are more focused on the infrastructure. Medyo nakakalimutan kami. Also, we have other agencies that cater to water distribution, which is the DILG.
DILG has what you call the ‘Salin-Tubig’ which caters also to the distribution of water. And it’s the local government who institutes and manages. So sometimes there are two authentic water districts, water utilities in a town or in the province. One managed by the LGU and one managed by the water district. So, I had a meeting with Secretary Eduardo Año, he believes, too, that the LGUs should not manage the water utility and soon we will enter an agreement that all water utilities serving level 3 to the household shall be turned over to the water district.
Under your proposed plan, one department will be able to control and manage water, irrigation, sewerage and sanitation for that matter. What main and abrupt solutions do current water-related issues agencies face?
It is, will be near impossible to unify everyone because we are forty, there is really an urgent need. The DA has a small water impounding, the DENR is river basin, there’s LLDA and there is the Pasig River, there is the flood control which is very important because it catches all the rains that we have.
Now we contain it. And just to compare ourselves with Singapore, Singapore is exporting 30% of water from Malaysia, 40% is coming from desalination, and 30% is recycled. So we are composed of 7,600 islands, there’s much water around us. So all we have to do is try to make the best use that we can do for the water and how to conserve, preserve, contain.
What are the roles of the private sector in this proposed plan of actions?
The private sector can practically say that we have the rainwater catchment. They can use the rainwater for the water closet they really use. But again, at least rain is better than the river. They can use for washing, for their bathrooms and everything. So it will minimize now the use of filtered water, purified water, this is, treated water. So it is lesser on the cost. Now, of course, what the public can do is try not to contaminate the rivers they consider it their esteros. Let us not contaminate.
For private establishments naman, well, ang gagawin lang diyan just like in Boracay area, they should have their own septage treatment. So ‘yung wastewater that is derived from the septage should be treated para maging good water when it goes down to the aquifer. Or they recycle their, like the casinos and hotels, they can recycle their septage treatment now, raise water and do it for their water cooler and for the flushing of the toilets.
Actually, the people, you don’t have to tell them to use it because they can save a lot. They will be saving millions of pesos of flushing and water cooler and everything.
What other plans do you have in mind to improve utility services in the Philippines not only water services but as a whole?
The Department of Water will be the solution to all our problems regarding water. Right now, if I say irrigation, then we have to talk about irrigation and the power component of irrigation with the DOE and then we have to talk to the farmers for their canal. We have to talk to so many if we don’t have a department. Well, if you have a department on head of the agency, there’s only one you have to talk to, at least one head to roll, ‘di ba?
Everybody, please help us in the preservation of our environment especially our rivers. Of course, the aquifer under us will not last long, everybody’s going down. For the better future of the children, we should have clean water other than clean air
