Deliberations on a proposal to create a Department of Water Resources (DWR) were reopened by the Senate Committee on Public Services yesterday, as lawmakers examined allegedly disadvantageous joint venture agreements between local water districts and private distributors.
Senator Raffy Tulfo, who chairs the panel, pushed for the establishment of the new department, saying fragmented oversight by more than 30 government agencies has contributed to persistent supply shortages, substandard services, inconsistent water rates, and ineffective flood control.
“Water drives our economy, with 42% of the Filipino workforce engaged in water-dependent sectors. Yet despite these natural advantages, around 40 million Filipinos still lack access to formal water supply,” he said.
“In more than 7,600 islands of the Philippines, an estimated 5,500 small islands have no independent fresh water source. The pressing question is this: is our problem a lack of water, or a lack of integrated governance?” he added.
Tulfo said the proposed agency would consolidate authority under a single entity tasked with crafting a master plan, strengthening monitoring mechanisms, and establishing clearer accountability in water governance.
Data presented during the hearing showed that the Anti-Red Tape Authority logged 213 water-related complaints from 2022 to 2025, with consumers often shuffled among providers, water districts, regulators, and local government units without clear resolution.
“The creation of the DWR finally gives us one captain steering the ship. One master plan, one monitoring body, and a bureau focused on flood control. The plan is clear, and accountability is clear,” Tulfo said.
Senator Bam Aquino backed the measure, citing public clamor for adequate water supply for households, businesses, and livelihoods.
Aquino said communities struggle not only with household supply and flooding but also with irrigation needs. He cited recent discussions with sugar farmers in Negros who reported reduced output due to water shortages linked to climate change and called for irrigation support beyond rice production.
“More than 30 agencies need to be consolidated, each with its own responsibilities and objectives. Once the Department of Water is established, nothing should be left out or left incomplete,” he said.
The panel also reviewed joint venture agreements between local water districts and private firms following complaints about poor water quality and inadequate services in several provinces.
Deputy Majority Leader Senator Joseph Victor Ejercito, for his part, called for a national water management master plan to secure long-term supply and address recurring flooding.
