2.10 Philippines
1 | Country Information
Table 2.10.1 Basic indicators
Land Area (km2)

300,000 (2020)*

Total Population

104.9 million (2017)*

GDP (current USD)

376.8 billion (2019)**

GDP per capita (current USD)

3,512 (2019)**

Average Precipitation (mm/year)

2,348 (2017)***

Total Renewable Water Resources (km3)479 (2017)***

Total Annual Freshwater Withdrawals(billion m3)

92.75 (2017)***

Annual Freshwater
Withdrawals
by Sector*EstimatedAgriculture

73.28% (2017)***

Industry

17.09% (2017)***

Municipal(including domestic)

9.63% (2017)***(Sources: **BSP 2020, ***FAO AQUASTAT 2020)

Resources Board (NWRB). Around 421 have catchment
areas of over 40 km 2. There are 18 with areas over
1,400 km2 (typologically classiﬁed as major river basins),
occupying over a third (i.e., 108,923 km2) of total landarea, as shown in Table 2.10.2. Owing to their significancefor water sources for industry, agriculture and domestic
uses, and ecological stability, the government considers
protection and conservation of these rivers a highpriority for overall socio-economic development andsustainability.
Table 2.10.2 Major River basins in the Philippines
Name ofRiver Basin

Catchment Area
(km 2)

River Length(km)

Cagayan

25,649505

Mindanao

23,169373

Agusan10,921350

Pampanga

9,759

260

Agno

5,952

206

Abra

5,125

178

Pasig-Laguna de Bay

4,678

78

Bicol

3,771

136

Abulug3,372

175

Tagum-Libuganon

3,064

89

Ilog-Hilabangan

1,945

124

Panay

1,843

132

Agus

1,890

36

Tagoloan

1,704

106

Davao

1,623

150

Cagayan de Oro

1,521

90

Jalaur

1,503

123

1,434

60

Buayan-Malungon
Total

108,923(Source: NWRB)

Figure 2.10.1 Anilao River in Ormoc City, Philippines

2 | State of Water Resources
The Philippines is an archipelagic country with a tropicaland monsoon climate endowed with coastal bays, rivers,
lakes, and groundwater. It has abundant water resources
with water availability of 5,302 m3/year/capita, which
varies according to topography and season. River basinsare classified according to size, by the National Water

102

According to a report from the Bureau of Fisheries
and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) of the Department ofAgriculture (DA), there are 79 natural lakes in thePhilippines, which are utilized for fish production. Ten of
the lakes are considered as major hosts for aquaculture
production, including the Laguna Lake (Laguna de Bay),
which the largest inland freshwater body in thePhilippines. Since the country consists of numerous
islands, the marine waters cover an area of about 266,000
km2, with a coastline length of 36,289 km. Around 70% of
municipalities are located in coastal areas.
Surface water is the main water source for thecountry. Another important source of water for domesticChapter 2: Country Profiles of Water Environmental Management in WEPA Countries

3 | State of Ambient Water Quality

Industrial
Agriculture andlivestocks

3.2 Lakes and Reservoirs

3.1 Rivers

Table 2.10.3 Observed water quality in the Laguna Lake (Laguna de Bay) and its tributaries in 2018

BOD

Fecal coliform

Class CClass D

Failed

>5

>5

2–5

<2

(19%)

(38%)

7–15

>15

% of monitoring points
mg/L% of monitoring points
mg/L

100% (43%)*
<3

3–5

5–7

100% (24%)

(19%)

(11%)

(3%)

(43%)

≤7

≤7

≤7

7–15

>15

≤0.5

0.5–5

>5

(50%)

(3%)

% of monitoring points
mg/L

100% (100%)≤0.5% of monitoring points≤0.5
100% (47%)

MPN/100 ml<1.1

1.1–100

100–200

200–400>400% of monitoring points(N/A)

100% (N/A)

(N/A)

(N/A)

(N/A)

Viet Nam

PO43-

Class B

>5

ThailandNO3-

Class A

Sri Lanka

DO

mg/L

Philippines

There are 321 classified principal rivers with drainage
areas of 40 km2 or more for monitoring, accounting for
76% of the country’s 421 Principal Rivers identified by
NWRB (EMB 2019). The objective of monitoring principal
rivers is to improve water quality and comply with the

Nepal

Deterioration of water quality is one of the coremanagement issues regarding the Laguna Lake (Laguna de
Bay). Pollution of the lake mainly derives from domestic(77%), agriculture (11%), industry (11%) and forestry (1%)
sources. Table 2.10.3 summarizes the water quality fromlakes and of tributaries feeding into the Laguna Lake
(Laguna de Bay). While there have been improvementsin the water quality of the lake for several parameters,that of the tributaries is of Class D or Failed status.

MyanmarFigure 2.10.2 Major sources of water pollution in thePhilippines based on BOD loading (Source: EMB 2014)

Malaysia

Non-point sources

27%

Lao PDR

29%

Domes�c

Republic of Korea

33%

Japan

11%

Indonesia

The rapid increase in population, urbanization, andindustrial development has led to water quality
degradation and deterioration. Figure 2.10.2 shows thefour key sources of water pollution. Water classiﬁcation orreclassiﬁcation based on the water quality criteria serves
as the benchmark for maintaining or improving the stateof water quality management in the Philippines. In 2019,
the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) completed
its classification of 898 water bodies based on the uses
(such as public water supply, agricultural, aquacultural,commercial, industrial, navigational, recreational, wildlife
conservation and aesthetic purposes) and water quality
to be maintained (EMB 2019).

China

DENR Administrative Order No. 2016-08 or the Water
Quality Guidelines and General Effluent Standards of2016. Of the 421 Principal Rivers, 180 suffer from waterpollution, mainly due to domestic wastes (fecal coliform)
and industrial and agricultural wastes. Monthly water
quality monitoring conducted in 46 Priority Rivers during
2019 found that 34 rivers were within the BOD criteria
and 37 were within the DO criteria. An additional 180
rivers were monitored throughout the Philippines for DO,of which 82% were within the water quality guideline
value.
With the intention of reducing floating garbage,
which is noticeable in some waterways and creeks, thecountry implemented the Adopt-an-Estero Waterbody
Program. The measures implemented include increased
frequency of dredging and de-clogging activities,
improved waste collection efficiency, faster flooding
abatement, complementary local policies and programsand employment for some communities along the
adopted waterbodies. After an extensive clean-up
carried out by 29,391 individuals from partner adopters,
LGUs and communities within the adopted waterbodies,
2,065.3 tons of mixed solid waste were recovered. Of the407 esteros or waterbodies monitored in 2019, 153
exhibited significant improvement in BOD and 147
showed improvements in DO level.

Cambodia

supply, irrigation, and industrial uses is in the form of an
extensive groundwater reservoir.

Note: There were a total of nine monitoring points in the lake and 35 along the tributaries; *figures in parentheses refer to tributaries(Source: LLDA 2018)103

3.3 Coastal Water
In 2019 the EMB monitored 39 priority recreational
waters (bathing beaches) for Fecal Coliform and foundthat 64% of beaches were within the water quality
guideline value. Similarly, pH was monitored in 33
recreational waters, 97% of which had values within
the criteria. In addition to priority bathing beaches, 174
bathing beaches were monitored for Fecal Coliform and
157 for pH, 97 of which passed the water quality criteria
for Class SB waters for Fecal Coliform and 151 passed thewater quality standard for pH. Table 2.10.4 shows thewater quality state in the Manila Bay bathing beaches.
Table 2.10.4 Average Dissolved Oxygen (DO), Phosphate(PO43-), and Nitrate (NO3-) in the Manila Bay Beaches(National Capital Region), 2018
Phosphate Nitrate(NO 3- )(PO 43- )Manila Bay Bathing Beaches
Monitoring Station

DO

Navotas

2.59

0.2

0.33

Luneta

3.9

0.16

0.38

Cultural Center of thePhilippines (CCP)

2.8

0.33

0.36

Mall of Asia (MOA)

0.9

0.51

0.33

PEATC

4.9

0.25

0.33

6

0.5

10

Water Quality Guidelines Class“SB” DAO 2016–08(Source: EMB 2019)average 9.4 million kg of BOD was removed per year overthe most recent four-year period. The highest pollution
load reduction was attained in 2012 with 9.5 million kg of
BOD removed.
There are ongoing and planned wastewater
treatment projects to treat domestic wastewater inmajor cities or under certain housing schemes.

Industrial wastewater
As of October 2017, there were 379 operating special
economic zones in the Philippines; 261 Information
Technology Parks, 74 Manufacturing Economic Zones, 22Agro-Industrial Economic Zones, 20 Tourism Economic
Zones and 2 Medical Tourism Centers. Four zones are
owned by the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA)
while the remaining are privately owned. The majority of
manufacturing industries in the Philippines are located in
the National Capital Region (30%), Region 4A- Calabarzon(17%), and Region 3 - Central Luzon (11%).
Industries that are known to generate large amountsof wastewater are food and dairy manufacturing, pulp
and paper, and textiles, though very little related data
exists. Volumes generated by each industry depend
mainly on the level of technical processing andproduction rates, as shown in Table 2.10.5.
Table 2.10.5 Estimated wastewater generation rates of
selected industry types in the Philippines
Industry

Wastewater volume
from industrial use(‘process wastewater’) (m 3/day)

Poultry processing plant

1,750

Meat and meat products

75–380Mining67,500

Pharmaceuticals
manufacturing

50–200

3.4 Groundwater
The status of groundwater quality is assessed through thePhilippine National Standard for Drinking Water under
the Tap Watch Program of the EMB, which monitors
88 shallow wells in the country. Under the program, it
was found that nearly 58% of groundwater samples inselected sampling sites were contaminated with coliform,
meaning treatment is required. The increased level ofsalinity in groundwater is another concern, especiallynear coastal areas of major cities such as Metro Manila
and Metro Cebu, the cause of which is assumed to beover-abstraction of groundwater.

4 | State of Wastewater Treatment
Domestic wastewater
Only 10% of domestic wastewater is treated, while
only 5% of the total population is connected to a sewer
network. Those not connected rely on septic tanks, pit
latrines, or practice open defecation, while the vast
majority use flush toilets connected to septic tanks while.
In Metro Manila, 43 sewage treatment plants (STPs)
and septage treatment plants (SpTPs) serve over a
million residents (around 9%) of the population. An

104

Milk manufacturing

960

Ethanol manufacturing

3,100

Sugarcane milling

100,000

Beverage manufacturing13,000

Packaging

60

Food processing

500

Pineapple processing

6,540(Source: ARCOWA 2018)

Industrial wastewater generally contains high BOD
loads and other kinds of pollutants, depending on thetype of manufacturing process. Table 2.10.6 shows theindicative wastewater quality of selected industry types.
Individual companies have obligations to manage
their wastewater either as stand-alone entities or as part

Chapter 2: Country Profiles of Water Environmental Management in WEPA Countries

Industry
Sugarcane milling

BOD (mg/L)

COD (mg/L)

TSS (mg/L)

6,000

Ethanol manufacturing

60,000Fish product canning

30,000pH

110,000

6,000

48–50

4–4.5

45000

10,70025

6.5–7.5

900

1,500

250

25

44,147

Meat processing

1,000–1,500

2,000

250

-

7

Copper cathode

-

-

43

30.4

8.15

2,000–4,200

4,000–5,429

1,600–5,380

-

-

400

1,647.05

90

32.2

8.35

Desiccated coconut
manufacturing

6,000–10,000

17,000–20,000

2,000–4,000-

5.0–6.3

Pineapple processing

10,20020,000585

40–50

4.5–6.5

Beverage manufacturing

Swine farms
Bottling services

6.5–8.0

Japan–

Indonesia

800–1,000

China

2,000–3,500

Temp. (˚C)

Cambodia

Table 2.10.6 Indicative wastewater quality of selected industry types in the Philippines(Source: ARCOWA 2018)

Nepal
Philippines
Sri Lanka
Thailand
Viet Nam

The Philippines has an extensive body of water-related
legislation that provides the legal basis for policies andregulations concerning water resource managementof the country. The Philippine Clean Water Act of2004 (Republic Act No. 9275 (RA 9275)) provides acomprehensive and Integrated strategy to preventand minimize pollution through a multi-sectoral andparticipatory approach involving all the stakeholders.
The Act aims to protect the country's water bodies
from pollution from land-based sources (industries andcommercial establishments, agriculture, and community/
household activities). The Act applies to water quality
management in all water bodies, abatement and control
of pollution from land-based sources, and enforcementof water quality standards, regulations and penalties.
Under Section 5 of RA 9275, Department ofEnvironment and Natural Resources (DENR) in
coordination with the National Water Resources Board(NWRB) designates Water Quality Management Areas(WQMA) using appropriate physiographic units such as

Myanmar

5.1 Legislation

Malaysia

5 | Frameworks for Water
Environmental Management

Lao PDR

The wastewater charge formula was established in2005 (DAO 2005-10) on the basis of payment to thegovernment for discharging wastewater into water
bodies in all water management areas. The conceptbehind this was to incentivize those who discharge
pollutants to reduce their pollution loads, such as
through improved production processes and investment
in pollution control technologies. DENR also issues
discharge permits for wastewater, which include theallowable values of both quantity and quality of eﬄuents,
compliance schedule and monitoring requirements.

Republic of Korea

of an industrial park. Ideally, the process wastewater andother non-domestic wastewater are pre-treated byindustries before discharging the effluent into thesewerage system of the industrial park. Many industrial
parks operate their own, however, these are still required
to comply with pre-treatment effluent standards
established by the industrial park before discharge into
the centralized wastewater treatment facility (CWTF) of
the park. The CWTF within the industrial park shallfurther treat the effluent from industries before
discharging it into bodies of water or reuse forlandscaping, irrigation or other purposes. Recent
regulations on nutrients have been a challenge for CWTF
operators as existing treatment systems are not designed
to remove nutrients such as nitrates and phosphates tothe levels required.
For industries not located within an industrial park,
effluent must comply with the Philippine Effluent
Standards, DAO 2016-08. However, some industries findmanaging wastewater challenging as they have todevelop their own expertise to comply with effluent
standards set either by the special economic zone orwith general effluent standards.
Individual companies generally collect and reporttheir wastewater volume data as required by theregulations, though there is no national databasecollating all these data. Individual industrial facilities,
outside of special economic zones, need to acquire a
wastewater discharge permit and are responsible for thequality of their discharge to surface waters. From themonitoring conducted by the EMB, rivers of the regions
had “unsatisfactory ratings” for their water quality
criteria. In areas of regulation, in the Manila Bay Area
alone, 5,228 out of 10,168 industries were served with
Notices of Violation (NOV) for failure to acquire permits
to discharge treated wastewater.

105

watershed, river basins or water resources regions. As
such, WQMA have similar hydrological, hydrogeological,
meteorological or geographic conditions which affect thephysiochemical, biological and bacteriological reactions
and diffusions of pollutants in the water bodies orotherwise share common interest or face similar
development programs, prospects or problems.
Governing boards, composed of relevant stakeholders ineach WQMA and chaired by DENR regional offices, areresponsible for the development of strategies tocoordinate policies, regulations/local legislation, andother measures necessary to effectively implement the
Clean Water Act.
The Water Quality Guidelines and General Effluent
Standards of 2016 (DAO 2016-08) provide guidelines forthe classification of water bodies in the country,
determination of time trends and the evaluation ofstages of deterioration/enhancement in water quality,and evaluation of the need for taking actions inpreventing, controlling, or abating water pollution.
Other legislations related to water environmental
conservation are the Philippines Environmental Policy(PD 1151) and the Solid Waste Management Act (RA9003). EMB is the governmental agency responsible forwater conservation and protection.

5.2 Institutional Arrangement
The lead agency for water resource management is the
Department of Environment and Natural Resources(DENR). Its mandates are to formulate, integrate,
coordinate, supervise, and implement all policies,
plans, programs, projects and activities relative tothe prevention and control of pollution as well as
management and enhancement of environment.
The responsibility for planning and managing water
resources in the Philippines is shared among several
government departments, bureaus and agencies (Table
2.10.7). In addition, local government units (LGUs) are
required to provide water supply systems, communal
irrigation facilities, implement social forestry and local
ﬂood control projects under the supervision and controlof DENR (SEPO 2011). A number of institutions andagencies are involved in overseeing water governance at
all levels.

5.3 Ambient Water Quality Standards
Ambient water quality standards

The Philippines uses its Water Quality Guidelines andGeneral Effluent Standards (GES) of 2016 by DENR

106

Administrative Order No. 2016-08 (DAO 2016-08) (anamendment of DAO 1990-35). DAO 2016-08 has aprovision for the water classification of water bodies forthe purpose of maintaining the quality of water based on
beneficial usage (Table 2.10.8).
The water quality guidelines (WQG) are to be
maintained for each water body classiﬁcation, theparameters of which are categorized as primary or
secondary. Primary parameters are the required
minimum water quality parameters to be monitored foreach water body. Secondary parameters are those usedin baseline assessments as part of an environmental
impact assessment or other water quality monitoring
purposes.

Water quality monitoring framework
Regional offices of EMB conduct regular water quality
monitoring throughout the country based on theparameters indicated in DAO 2016-08. From 2001
to 2016, 238 water bodies were monitored either forclassification or for regular water quality monitoring, anddepending on the resources, monitoring is carried out
monthly or quarterly in accordance with the DENR-EMB
Water Quality Monitoring manual (2009).

5.4 Effluent Standards
Effluent standards

DAO 2016-08 states that discharges from any point
source shall at all times meet the effluent standards,
and Section 7 of the same states that discharges fromany point sources shall at all times meet the eﬄuent
standards set forth to maintain the required water
quality per water body classiﬁcation. The GES is to be
used regardless of the industry category and volume ofdischarge. Effluent used for agricultural purposes shallconform to DAO 2007-26 and shall at all times meet theeffluent standards.

Effluent inspection procedure
Monitoring in the industry is conducted at different
levels (Table 2.10.9), and can only be carried out by
the subjects needing to comply with eﬄuent standards
themselves, in principle. The documents to be submitted
include monitoring reports (self-monitoring), plans,required permits (discharge permits) or other proof ofcompliance or implementation. Field monitoring forverification involves actual plant inspection, effluent
sampling and validation of submitted reports.

Chapter 2: Country Profiles of Water Environmental Management in WEPA Countries

National Water Resources
Board (NWRB)

To administer/enforce the Water code and serve as the lead coordinator for water resources management
programs.

Environmental Management
Bureau (EMB)

To formulate, integrate, coordinate, supervise, and implement all policies, plans, programs, projects, andactivities related to the prevention and control of pollution as well as management and enhancement of theenvironment.

Forest Management Bureau(FMB)

To formulate/implement policies and programs for the protection, development, occupancy management,
and conservation of forest lands and watershed areas.

Department of Agriculture
To undertake water resource projects for agricultural irrigation and other purposes, such as flood control anddrainage.

Bureau of Soil and Water
Management (BSWM)

To formulate/implement policies and programs for the protection of existing and potential sources of soil andwater for agricultural development.

Bureau of Fisheries andAquatic Resources (BFAR)

To establish plans for the proper protection and management of the country’s fisheries and aquatics
resources.
Administers compliance of the country’s National Standard for Drinking Water Program.

Department of Interior andLocal Government (DILG)

Administers implementation of the country’s National Water Supply and Sanitation Program; mandated tooversee attainment of the country’s SDG goal on access to safe drinking water by all.

Water Supply andSanitation Unit

To provide capacity building programs for Local; Government Units (LGUs) in preparing local water supply
and sanitation plans as well as providing information on available sector programs, and facilitating access tofinancing for water supply and sanitation projects.

National Power Corporation(NPC)

To develop and manage electric generation facilities including (but not limited to) hydroelectric dams andundertakes other activities related to watershed management.

Metro Manila Development
Authority (MMDA)

Administers governance of MM area development such as infrastructure development, law enforcement ofenvironmental laws - solid waste management, Clean Water Act, Water Code of the Philippines, Clean Air
Act, etc.

Metropolitan Waterworks andSewerage System (MWSS)

To regulate water concessionaires’ rates and services standards in Metro Manila and maintain existing assets
and infrastructures.

Pasig River Rehabilitation
Commission (PRRC)

Coordinate and integrate, and monitor the implementation of all Government Agencies plans, and programsfor the rehabilitation of Pasig river.

Laguna Lake Development
Authority (LLDA)

To formulate, regulate and implement all policies, plans, programs, projects and activities related to theprevention and control of pollution as well as management and enhancement of environment in the Laguna
Lake Region.

Local Water Utilities
Administration (LWUA)

To promote, finance, and regulate the operation and construction of local water utilities outside Metro
Manila.

Local Government Units (LGUs)

Administration/management of rivers within the jurisdiction of the LGUs and implementation of Ecological
Solid Waste Management Act within its area of political and jurisdictional responsibility.

Classification

Intended Beneficial Use

Class A

Public Water Supply Class II – For sources of water supply requiring conventional treatment (coagulation, sedimentation,
filtration and disinfection) to meet the latest PNSDWClass B

Recreational Water Class I – Intended for primary contact recreation (bathing, swimming, skin diving, etc.)

Class C

Fishery Water for the propagation and growth of fish and other aquatic resources. Recreational Water Class II (Boating,fishing or similar activities). For agriculture, irrigation, and livestock watering)

Table 2.10.9 Monitoring of industries
Level

Responsible Person/Office

ThailandPublic Water Supply Class I – Intended primarily for waters having watersheds, which are uninhabited and otherwise
protected, and which require only approved disinfection to meet the Philippine National Standards for Drinking Water(PNSDW)

Sri Lanka

Class AA

Philippines

Table 2.10.8 Classification of water bodies according to intended beneficial use

Nepal

To coordinate the preparation of national/regional/sectorial development policies and investment programs,
including those on sanitation.

MyanmarNational Economic andDevelopment Authority (NEDA)

Malaysia

Primary agency for implementing the country’s national Sewerage and Septage Management.

Lao PDR

Department of Public Worksand Highways (DPWH)

Republic of Korea

Department of Health (DOH)Japan

National Irrigation
Administration (NIA)

Indonesia

Mandates of the agency
The primary government agency responsible for the conservation, management, development, and properuse of the country’s environment and natural resources.

China

Name of the agency
Department of Environment
and Natural Resources (DENR)

Cambodia

Table 2.10.7 Key institutions involved in water governance in the Philippines

Report Requirement

Pollution Control Officer

Multi-Partite Monitoring (MMT)or Third Party Monitoring

Team headed by the company composed of various Stakeholders(LGUs, Non-Government Organizations (NGOs) and other sectors)

Audit Report/CMR

Regulating body

EMB Central Office/EMB-Regional Offices

Compliance Evaluation Report

Viet Nam

Project Proponent/Company

Self-Monitoring Report (SMR) and/or(CMR) Compliance Monitoring Report107Measures against non-compliance
The Clean Water Act requires owners or operators offacilities that discharge regulated eﬄuents to obtain adischarge permit, which is a legal authorization grantedby the DENR to discharge wastewater. The permit
specifies items such as quantity and quality of eﬄuent,compliance schedule and monitoring requirements, andcan be suspended or revoked if business entities fall outof compliance with the rules and regulations and/or
permit conditions.
A n u m b e r o f i n d u st r i e s a n d co m m e rc i a lestablishments are still unable to comply with theeffluent standards despite the availability of technology
to treat wastewater. As shown in Table 2.10.10, about
54% or 4,930 of the 9,060 monitored firms nationwide
were found to have violated effluent standards in 2019.
There are still micro-, small and medium-sizedenterprises which do not invest in facilities to treat theirwastewater prior to discharge to water bodies resulting
in the degradation of rivers, lakes and marine waters.
Table 2.10.10 Percentage of compliance of firms in 2018and 2019
Details

2018

2019

Discharge permits issued

6,010

5,929

Monitored firms

9,554

9,060

Notices of violation issued

4,959

4,930

Percentage of compliance

48%

46%
(Source: EMB 2019)

Those who violate the GES are referred to the
Pollution Adjudication Board (PAB) for issuance of a
“Cease and Desist Order” (CDO). Upon recommendationof the PAB, anyone who commits any of the prohibited
acts or violates any of the provisions of this Act and its
Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) may be fined
not less than 10,000 PHP but not more than 200,000
PHP for every day of violation. Failure to undertake
clean-up operations, willfully or through grossnegligence, can lead to imprisonment of not less than
two but not more than four years, in addition to a fine of
not less than 50,000 PHP but not more than 100,000
PHP per day of violation. In cases where such failure or
refusal to clean-up results in serious injury or loss of life
or irreversible water contamination, imprisonment of
not less than six years (but not more than 12 years) and afine of 500,000 PHP per day for each violation will beapplied.
On the other hand, rewards are provided toindividuals, private organizations and other entities fromthe National Water Quality Management Fund foroutstanding and innovative projects, technologies,

108

processes and techniques, and activities. Incentives forindustries are also provided, such as tax and duty
exemptions for industrial wastewater treatment/collection facilities.

6 | Recent Developments inWater Environmental Management
One development is DAO 2019-15, which has designatedthe Boracay Island Water Quality Management andConservation Area (WQMACA) as well as creation of its
Governing Board, the objective of which is to protect
and continuously improve water quality and sustain
livelihood opportunities in the island. Under a cleanup initiative of Boracay Beach areas, several notices ofviolation (NOVs) and cease and desist orders (CDOs) havebeen issued to various commercial establishments inBoracay Beach areas (prime tourist destination), Provinceof Aklan, regarding violations of the Clean Water Act.
Various establishments were also demolished, due toviolations of the easement rule under the Water Code of
the Philippines.
Another is DAO 2018-12, which has designated twoWater Quality Management Areas and their Governing
Boards, for the Upper and Lower Amburayan River
System (UARS/LARS). This DAO aims to ensure water
quality of the UARS and its tributaries to make it asustainable resource for the people of the municipalities
of Atok, Bakun, Buguias, Kapangan, Kibungan and Tublay
and their communities. In LARS, improvement in water
quality is expected to contribute to enhancement as asource of water irrigation and other agricultural uses in
the Provinces of La Union and Ilocos Sur.
Regarding Manila Bay, an ongoing large-scale groundinspection/rehabilitation is underway, involving issuanceo f N OVs a n d C D O s to v i o l at i n g co m m e rc i a lestablishments/hotels for failure to establish STPs/
wastewater treatment plants. Part of the clean-up
activities of the bay area and its tributaries undertakenby the DENR-NCR MBSCMO under KRA 2 include
Installation of trash traps at Baseco Lagoon, fabricationof two trash collector rafts with capacity of 552 kg loads,
inspection of rivers and esteros, coordination meetings
with concerned stakeholders, and launching of theManila Bay Watch Bike Patrollers. Over 1.2 million kg ofsolid wastes were collected and removed from Manila
Bay area and its tributaries.
Clean-up drives are also active in other major beachareas of prime tourist destinations in the Mimaropa
region, namely: Coron, El Nido and San Vicente, in
Palawan, and Puerto Galera in Oriental Mindoro, San

Chapter 2: Country Profiles of Water Environmental Management in WEPA Countries

Japan
Republic of Korea
Lao PDR
Malaysia
Myanmar• Meetings with concerned agencies to tackle issues

Indonesia

With the foundation for sustainable water quality
management already laid out, the main challenge
now lies in the continuation of existing water quality
management policies and programs to rehabilitate
and preserve the quality of the country’s water bodies,and ultimately, achieve and sustain quality of life for
future generations. Weak water use regulations andfragmentation in the water agencies cause coordination
issues and weak enforcement. Other challenges include
maintaining water quality against drivers and pressures,such as high water demand and limited supply,
indiscriminate land use and development, increasing
volumes of solid wastes, pollutants, and hazardous
wastes, and inadequate treatment facilities. Sciencebased data and information is needed for efficient andeffective planning and decision making to improvewater quality governance. For that, it is important toincrease access to the new knowledge and technologies
generated from international R&D standards.
The major responses planned or undertaken to
overcome the challenges include:

China

7 | Challenges and Future Plans

CambodiaJose in Occidental Mindoro; Panglao, Bohol and Siargao,
Agusan Del Norte. NOVs and CDOs have been issued tovarious commercial establishments in violation of the
Clean Water Act, and various establishments weredemolished in violation of the easement rule under the
Water Code of the Philippines.

and concerns as well as take appropriate actions

institutional framework for effective and proper
handling of water management
governance model• Conduct trainings and seminars to inform, educate• Conduct workshops on various technologies used inwater resources management

Viet Namand properly disseminate information regarding
water management and water environment
governance

Thailand

help address issues in water management, especiallyin reducing long-term costs, potential increases inwaste, and implications resulting from the lack ofavailable clean water

Sri Lanka• Improve planning and decision-making processes• Create a cost-effective long-term plan/framework toPhilippines• Study and implementation of participatory water

Nepal• Review, reorganize, reevaluate, and update legal and109