Progress of Water Environment
Governance in the Philippines
Vicente B. Tuddao, Jr. Ph.D
Career Executive Service Officer IV
Assistant Regional Director for Technical Services/Director III
Department of Environment and Natural Resources
MIMAROPA Region, Philippines
Engr. Erlinda A. Gonzales
Technical Officer
Department of Environment and Natural Resources
National Capital Region
The 15th WEPA Annual Meeting
07 February 2020
BangkokTHE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES PROFILE• It has an economy that is a newly industrializedcountry, transitioning from agriculture to one based
more on services and manufacturing. As of 2019,
GDP (PPP) was estimated to be at US$1.041 trillion(WorldBank,
September
2018),
US$354billion(nominal). The 13th largest economy in Asia.
• There are a total of 1,003,111 business enterprises
operating in the country. Of these, 998,342 (99.52%)
are MSMEs and 4,769 (0.48%) are large enterprises.
Micro enterprises constitute 88.45% (887,272) oftotal MSME establishments, followed by small
enterprises at 10.58% (106,175) and medium
enterprises at 0.49% (4,895) (Philippine Statistics
Authority, 2018) 2018 List of Establishments of thePhilippine
Statistics
Authority(P
1,003,111 business enterprises operating in the
country. Of these, 998,342 (99.52%) are MSMEs andTHE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES PROFILE• There are a total of 820,253 industrial
establishments (based on 18 industry type)throughout the country, wherein 60% arelocated within the Manila Bay Region (Metro
Manila, Region 3, and Region 4A). Of thesenumber 112,789 are manufacturing industries.
• Main manufacturing industries are pulp andpaper mills, sugar mills, alcohol distilleries,
food processing, plastic and consumer goods,
copper smelter, glass plant, steel mills, cement
plant, electronics assembly, aerospace,textiles, petroleum refining and shipbuilding.

THE WATER RESOURCES OF THE PHILIPPINES
Coastal & Marine Waters
Major sources of fresh
surface water Covers an area of about 266,00 km sq,
including bays and gulfs
 Coastline stretches to about 36,289 km
 Coral reefs cover about 27,000 sq km
 64 of the 79 provinces are in coastal areas

Inland Waters
 Ground Water – aggregate area of about
50,000 sq km
 Lakes- 79
 Rivers
 Major River (drainage area
not less than1,400sqkm) - 18
 Principal River (drainage area
not less than 40 km sq)- 421

Water Quality Status

STATUS OF RIVERS IN THE PHILIPPINES
Out of the 421 Principal Rivers, 180 sufferfrom water pollution mainly contributed bydomestic wastes (fecal coliform), industrial
and agricultural wastes. Efforts are being
made to rehabilitate these rivers.
Cagayan River

Pasig River

The rapid increase in population, urbanization andindustrial development has led to the river degradationand deterioration which is due mainly to waterpollution.

Source: Nat’l Water Quality Status Report, EMB (Based on BOD loadings)

• The Environmental Management Bureau, in 2016
regularly monitored 19 priority rivers nationwide. For CY
2016, Only 4 rivers passed both the DO and BOD
standards. Out of the fifteen (15) of the 19 rivers
monitored, nine(9) rivers or 60% passed the DO (mg/L)
while eight (8) or 53% passed the BOD.
• In 2018, EMB identified forty-two (42) priority rivers formonitoring with an objective of improving its water
quality in terms of Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD)
and Dissolved Oxygen (DO). For CY 2018, 37 priority
rivers were monitored and out of which, 30 or (81%)
passed in terms of BOD while 31 or (84%) in terms of
DOThe Case of Water Quality Status of Manila Bay,
Philippines

Monitoring of Bathing
Beaches Around Manila
Bay• Nineteen (19) Bathing
beaches weremonitored for fecal
coliform countfrom 2013 to 2019
• Out of the 19 stations
monitored only one (1)station passed the SB
Criteria for fecal
coliformof 100MPN/100ml(Dalaroy’s Resort)

Bathing Beaches Monitoring Stations

Dalaroy’s Resort

Dissolve Oxygen (DO) Monitoring Report for Manila Bay Beaches(National Capital Region), 2015-2018
Manila Bay Bathing
Beaches Monitoring
StationAverage
2015

Average
2016

Average
2017

Average2018

Navotas

2.82

0.34

1.50

2.59

3.70

1.10

2.60

3.90

Cultural Centerof thePhilippines
(CCP)

3.10

1.00

3.00

2.80

Mall ofAsia(MOA)

2.60

0.70

0.80

0.90

PEATC

5.30

1.80

5.00

4.90

LunetaWater Quality
Guidelines
Class “SB”
DAO 2016-08

6.0 mg/L

Dissolved Oxygen – is the concentration of oxygen dissolved in the water. It is measured either in concentration or “percent
saturation.” Concentration is the milligram of oxygen in a liter of water, expressed as mg/L. Percent saturation is the amount ofoxygen in a liter of water relative to the total amount of oxygen that the water can hold at that temperature. (Reference: Water Quality
Monitoring Manual, February 2008)

Dissolve Oxygen (DO)

Water Quality
Guidelines Class “SB”
= 6.0 mg/L

6

5.3

5 4.9

5

Mg/L

4
3

0
Year 2015
Year 2016
Year 2017
Year 2018

3.1

2.82

2
1

3.9

3.7

3

2.6

2.59

2.8

2.6
1.8

1.5
1.1

1

Luneta
3.7
1.1
2.6
3.9

CCP
3.1
1
3
2.8

0.7 0.8

0.9

0.34

Navotas
2.82
0.34
1.5
2.59

MOA
2.6
0.7
0.8
0.9

PEATC
5.3
1.8
5
4.9

Phosphate-Phosphorus Monitoring Report for Manila Bay Beaches(National Capital Region), 2015-2018
Manila Bay Bathing
Beaches Monitoring
StationAverage
2015

Average
2016

Average
2017

Average2018

Navotas

4.86

2.80

0.20

0.20

1.76

1.17

0.13

0.16

Cultural Centerof thePhilippines
(CCP)

1.84

0.92

0.14

0.33

Mall ofAsia(MOA)

1.73

9.76

0.38

0.51

PEATC

1.34

1.21

0.10

0.25

LunetaWater Quality
Guidelines
Class “SB”
DAO 2016-08

0.5 mg/L

Phosphates are nutrients that come from both natural sources and human activities (fertilizers, detergents, wastewater, etc.). Sourcesof nitrates include fertilizers and domestic and industrial wastes. Sources of phosphate include polyphosphates in detergents, raw
sewage, and run off from farms that use phosphate fertilizers.
Phosphorus nutrient pollution causes enormous algal bloom, a form of cyanobacteria, which can produce neurotoxins (affecting
the nervous system) and hepatotoxins (affecting the liver). Ingestion of these algae produced toxins while swimming can lead todeath. (Reference: Water Quality Monitoring Manual, February 2008)

Phosphate-Phosphorus

Water Quality
Guidelines Class “SB”
= 0.5 mg/L

9.97

10
9
8

Mg/L

7
6
5

4.86

4
3

2.8
1.76
1.17

2
1
0
Year 2015
Year 2016
Year 2017
Year 2018

0.2 0.2

Navotas
4.86
2.8
0.2
0.2

0.130.16

Luneta
1.76
1.17
0.13
0.16

1.84

1.73

0.92
0.140.33

CCP
1.84
0.92
0.14
0.33

1.341.21
0.380.51

MOA
1.73
9.97
0.38
0.51

0.1 0.25

PEATC
1.34
1.21
0.1
0.25

Nitrate-Nitrogen Monitoring Report of Manila Bay Beaches(National Capital Region), 2015-2018
Manila Bay Bathing
Beaches Monitoring
StationAverage
2015

Average
2016

Average
2017

Average2018

Navotas

4.04

2.80

0.95

0.33

1.17

1.00

1.18

0.38

Cultural Center of
the Philippines
(CCP)

1.62

0.78

1.01

0.36

Mall ofAsia(MOA)

1.38

1.26

0.94

0.33

PEATC

1.46

0.78

0.70

0.33

LunetaWater Quality
Guidelines
Class “SB”
DAO 2016-08

10 mg/L

Nitrate-nitrogen is another essential nutrient needed by plants. This is one form of dissolved nitrogen that naturally occurs in soil
and water. It is the primary source of nutrients for plants and may be used as fertilizer. DAO 2016-08 has a minimum acceptablevalue of 10 mg/L NO3-N. (Reference: Water Quality Monitoring Manual, February 2008)

Water Quality
Guidelines Class “SB”
= 10 mg/L

Nitrate-Nitrogen
10
4.5
4

4.04

Mg/L

3.5
3

2.8

2.5
2
1.5
1
0.5
0

Year 2015
Year 2016
Year 2017
Year 2018

1.62
0.95
0.33

Navotas
4.04
2.8
0.95
0.33

1.17

1

1.18

1.01
0.78

0.38

Luneta
1.17
1
1.18
0.38

1.38
1.26
0.94

0.36

CCP
1.62
0.78
1.01
0.36

0.33

MOA
1.38
1.26
0.94
0.33

1.46
0.780.7
0.33

PEATC
1.46
0.78
0.7
0.33

To Address Water Pollution of Manila Bay, the following
Strategies were Adopted/employed:

Strategies:• Rehabilitation of the dredging of river systems
and Bay’s shore area)• Strengthen law enforcement• Strong private sector participation (CSR)- Adopt a body of water/estero program• Interagency cooperation and collaboration• Sufficient budget support from the government• Stakeholders participation andcooperation/change of attitude or behaviour

The Case of Water Quality Status of Puerto Galera,
Oriental Mindoro, Philippines

Location Maps of Sabang, Puerto Galera: Designatedas Water Quality Management Area (WQMA)
Pursuant to Clean Water Act (Republic Act No. 9275,
series of 2004)

Sabang Bay

Sabang Bay is designated a Water Quality Management Area
(WQMA) pursuant to Clean Water Act
Monitoring Stations

Water Quality Monitoring Report, Fecal Coliform count (MPN/100 mL) 5
meters away from the shore Sabang Bay, Puerto Galera, 2019

Water Quality Report, Fecal Coliform Count, MPN/100mL, Sabang Bay,
Puerto Galera (2015-2019) Graph

WQG

Water Quality Monitoring Report (Phosphate), Sabang Bay,
Puerto Galera, 2019

Note: All passed the WQG

Water Quality Monitoring Report (Phosphate), Sabang Bay,
Puerto Galera, 2019 Graph

Water Quality Report, Dissolve Oxygen (DO) mg/L, CY 2015-2019, Sabang
Bay, Puerto Galera

Note: Sabang point station failed the WQG

Water Quality Report, Dissolve Oxygen (DO) mg/L, CY 2015-2019, Sabang
Bay, Puerto Galera GraphTotal Suspended Solids (TSS) mg/L, CY 2015-2019, Sabang Bay, Puerto
GaleraNote: All monitoring stations passed the WQG from year 2015 to 2019

Total Suspended Solids (TSS) mg/L, CY 2015-2019, Sabang Bay, Puerto
Galera Graph

Completed construction and fully operational Sewerage Treatment Plant(STP) in Puerto Galera-Sabang Beach Area in October, 2019 to service
both domestic and commercial establishments along the beach area witha capacity of 1,750 cubic meters per dayStatus of Industrial Wastewater Management

STATUS OF COMPLIANCE BY INDUSTRIAL / COMMERCIALESTABLISHMENTS TO THE CLEAN WATER ACT• Based on records of the DENR-EMB, of the total industries in
the Manila Bay Region that have been monitored from 20112015, only 45.41% are complying with the DENR Standards /or have been issued Wastewater Discharge Permit. At the
National level, about 50% are complying.
• This means that many have been issued Notices of
Violation (NOV) and are still implementing measures (suchas construction of wastewater treatment facility) so as totreat their wastewater. Or some still have pending case with
Pollution Adjudication Board (payment of fines/penalties)

Status Domestic Wastewater Management

Status of Wastewater Management in the Philippines• Only 10% of wastewater is treated;• Only 5% of the total population is connected to a sewer network. The vast
majority uses flush toilets connected to septic tanks;• 76.8 percent of families in the Philippines have sanitary toilet facilities(DOH, 2008).
• Less than 10 percent have access to piped sewerage systems. Those that are
not connected to a sewerage network rely on septic tanks, pit latrines, or
practice open defecation.
• In Metro Manila, 43 sewage treatment plants (STPs) and septage treatment
plants (SpTPs) service more than a million residents or around nine percentof the region’s entire population. An average of 9.4 million kilograms of
BOD was removed per year during this four-year period. The highest
pollution load reduction was attained in 2012 with 9.5 million kilograms of
BOD removed.

• The estimated total annual volume of wastewater produced from both

municipal and major agricultural industries is about 7,465 million cubic
meters. This data may be considered inadequate because there are otherindustries that are producing wastewater but their data are not readily
available.

Sewage Treatment Plant in
Balanga, Bataan, Philippines designed
to serve 180, 000 households in theprovince of Bataan.

Total
Total
Area:
Area:
300,000
300,000
Sq
Sqkm
km

Balanga, Bataan

Balanga, Bataan

Location of Some of the
Sewage Treatment Plants
in Metro Manila andAdjacent Provinces

Legislative Framework
for Water Environmental GovernancePHILIPPINE CLEAN WATER ACT OF 2004
(Republic Act No. 9275)
Provides For A Comprehensive and Integrated Strategy
to prevent and minimize pollution through a Multi-Sectoraland participatory approach involving all the stakeholders.

The Clean Water Act Applies To:• Water quality management in all water bodies.
• Abatement and control of pollution fromland-based sources.
• Enforcement of water quality standards,
regulations and penalties.

PHILIPPINE CLEAN WATER ACT OF 2004
(Republic Act No. 9275)
To control wastewater discharges, DENR has enforced
the Wastewater Discharge Permitting System• All Owners Or Operators Of Facilities That Discharge
Regulated Effluents Shall Secure Wastewater Discharge
Permit (DP).
• DP is the legal authorization granted by the DENR todischarge wastewater into a water body.
• The DENR Implements Wastewater Charge System (WCS) in all
Management Areas and Regional Industrial Centers through theCollection of Wastewater Charges/Fees.

Water Body Classification and Usage of Freshwaters(Rivers, Lakes)

Classification
Class AA

AA

A

Intended Beneficial Use
Public Water Supply Class I – Intended
primarily for waters having watersheds, which
are uninhabited and otherwise protected, andwhich require only approved disinfection tomeet the Philippine National Standards for
Drinking Water (PNSDW)
Public Water Supply Class II – For sources ofwater supply requiring conventional treatment(coagulation, sedimentation, filtration anddisinfection) to meet the latest PNSDWWater Body Classification and Usage of Freshwaters (Rivers, Lakes)
Classification

B

C

Beneficial Use

Recreational Water Class I – intended forprimary contact recreation (bathing, swimming,
skin diving, etc.)• Fishery Water for the propagation andgrowth of fish and other aquatic resources• Recreational Water Class II (Boating, fishingor similar activities)• For agriculture, irrigation, and livestock
watering)

DENR ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER NO. 2016-08(An amendment of DAO 1990-35)

WATER QUALITY GUIDELINES AND GENERAL
EFFLUENT STANDARDS OF 2016

Discharges from any point source shall at all times meet theeffluent standards
The GES shall be used regardless of theindustry category and volume of discharge
Effluent used for agricultural purposes shall conform to the DA
Administrative Order No. 2007-26.
DAO 2016- 08 has also provision for the water classificationof water bodies for the purpose of maintaining thequality of water based on beneficial usage.

Effluent Standards (DAO 2016-08)
Parameter

Class AClass BClass CClass D

Ammonia as NH3-N,
mg/L

0.5

0.5

0.5

7.5

BOD5,mg/L

20

30

50

120

Boron, mg/L

2

2

3

12

Chloride, mg/L

350

350

450

500

COD, mg/L

60

60

100

200

Color, TCU

100

100

150

300

Cyanide as Free Cyanide,
mg/L

0.14

0.14

0.2

0.4

Fluoride, mg/L

2

2

2

4

Effluent Standards (DAO 2016-08)
Parameter

Class AClass BClass CClass D

14

14

14

30

6.0-9.0

6.0-9.0

6.0-9.5

5.5-9.5

Phosphate, mg/L

1

1

1

10

Selenium, mg/L

0.02

0.02

0.04

0.08

Sulfate, mg/L

500

500

550

1,000

Surfactants (MBAS), mg/L

2

3

15

30

Temperature(h) °C change

3

3

3

3

Total Suspended Solids,
mg/L

70

85

100

150

Nitrate as NO3-N, mg/L
pH (Range)Effluent Standards (DAO 2016-08)
Parameter

Class AClass BClass CClass D

Arsenic, mg/L

0.02

0.02

0.04

0.08

Barium, mg/L

1.5

1.5

6

8

Cadmium, mg/L

0.006

0.006

0.01

0.02

Chromium as Hexavalent
Chromium (Cr6+)

0.02

0.02

0.02

0.04

Copper as dissolved
Copper, mg/L

0.04

0.04

0.04

0.08

Iron, mg/L

5

5

7.5

35

Lead, mg/L

0.02

0.02

0.1

0.2

Manganese, mg/L

2

2

2

20

Institutional Framework
for Water Environmental GovernanceNational Government Agencies with Primary mandates
on Water Environment Governance
Executive Order No. 192 (1987)“The Department of Environment and Natural Resources(DENR) shall be the primary government agency responsible for the conservation,
management, development, and proper use of the country’s environment and natural
resources.”

The Environmental Management Bureau is the primary
government agency under the DENR mandated- to formulate, integrate, coordinate, supervise, and implement all policies, plans,
programs, projects and activities relative to the prevention and control of pollution as wellas management and enhancement of environmentOther Government Agencies with related mandates on Water
Environment governance:• Laguna Lake Development Authority – to formulate, regulate andimplement all policies, plans, programs, projects and activities relative to theprevention and control of pollution as well as management and enhancement ofenvironment in Laguna Lake Region• Pasig River Rehabilitation Commission – Coordinate and integrate, andmonitor the implementation of all Government Agencies plans, and programs forthe rehabilitation of Pasig river• Department of Public Works and Highways –It is the primary agency
that implement the country’s national Sewerage and Septage Management• Metro Manila Development Authority – administer 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.

• Department of Health (DoH) – administer the compliance of the country’s
National Standard for Drinking Water Program• Metro Manila Sewage and Sewerage System (MWSS) – Governance of
the water supply program of Metro Manila and other provinces, and directly
oversee the implementation of plans and programs of the two water
concessionaires, namely: Manila Water Company (MWC) and Maynilad Water
Services Co.(MWSC)• Local Government Units (LGUs) – administer/management of rivers
within the jurisdiction of the LGUs, and implement Ecological Solid Waste
Management Act within its area of political and jurisdictional responsibility.
• Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) – administer the
implementation of the country’s National Water Supply and Sanitation
Program, and mandated to oversee the attainment of the country’s SDG goal onaccess to safe drinking water by all.

• Under the National Sewerage and Septage Management
Program, the LGUs shall share the responsibility in the
management and improvement of water quality within theirterritorial jurisdictions.
• Local Government Units are the key players in the Water
Quality Management Areas designated by DENR in
accordance with Sec. 5 of the Clean Water Act and its IRR

Water Quality Monitoring Framework

MONITORING OF THE INDUSTRIES
Level

Responsible
Person/Office

Report Requirement

Project
Proponent/Company

Pollution Control Officer

Self-Monitoring Report(SMR) and/or (CMR)
Compliance Monitoring
ReportMulti-Partite
Monitoring (MMT) or
Third Party
Monitoring

Team headed by the company Audit Report / CMR
composed of various
Stakeholders (LGU, Non
Government Organizations(NGOs) and other sectors)

Regulating body

EMB Central Office / EMBRegional Offices

Compliance Evaluation
ReportMETHODS OF MONITORING THE INDUSTRIES

Table Monitoring Documents submitted

o reports (Self-Monitoring Report)o planso required permits (discharge permit)
o other proof of compliance or
implementation

Field MonitoringSite Validation (actual plant inspectionand effluent sampling plus validation ofsubmitted reports)

Enforcement Instruments
for Water Environment Management

PENALTIES AND LIABILITIES FOR NON-COMPLIANCE

Anyone who commits violation of of the General
Effluent Standards (GES), case shall be elevated to the
Pollution Adjudication Board (PAB) for issuance of a
“Cease and Desist Order” (CDO).
Violation

Penalty/Civil Liability

Anyone who commits any ofthe prohibited acts or violates
any of the provisions of this
Act & its IRR

Upon recommendation of the PAB,
Fine of not less than PhP10,000 but
not more than P200,000 for every dayof violation

Violation
Failure to undertake
clean‐up
operations– wilfully or
through gross negligence
Failure or refusal toclean‐upwhich results in serious injury
orloss of life or lead toirreversible
water contamination

Penalty/Civil Liability
Imprisonment not less than 2yrs but
not more than 4 yrs.; A fine of notless than PhP50,000 but not morethan PhP100,000 per day of violation

Imprisonment of not less than 6 yrs.
and 1 day and not more than 12 yrs.
and fine of PhP500,000 per day foreach violation

Violation

Penalty/Civil Liability

Gross violation of the Act,
-Deliberate discharge of toxic
pollutants-Five (5) or more violations within aperiod of 2years-Blatant disregard of the orders of
the PAB, such as non-payment offines, breaking of seals or operating
despite the existence of an order for
closure, discontinuance or cessationof operation.

PAB shall issue resolution
recommending that proper
gov’t agencies file criminal
charges against violator

On-Going Major Environmental Law Enforcement• Continuing Clean Up Drive of Boracay Beach Area- Issued
Notice of Violation (NOVs) and Cease and Desist Order(CDOs)to various commercial establishments in Boracay Beach
Areas (Prime Tourist Destination), Province of Aklan, in
violation of Clean Water Act; Demolished various establishments
in violation of the easement rule under the Water Code of thePhilippines.
• Rehabilitation of Manila Bay- on-going massive groundinspection and issued Notice of violation (NOVs) and Cease andDesist Orders (CDOs) of violating commercial
establishments/hotels for failure to establish STPs/wastewater
treatment plants.

• Clean Up Drive of other major Beach Areas of prime Tourist
destination in MIMAROPA region namely: Coron, El Nido and
San Vicente, in Palawan, and Puerto Galera in Oriental Mindoro,
San Jose in Occidental Mindoro; Panglao, Bohol and Siargao,
Agusan Del Norte. Issued Notice of Violation (NOVs) andCease and Desist Orders (CDO)to various commercial
establishments in violation of Clean Water Act; Demolishedvarious establishments in violation of the easement rule under
the Water Code of the Philippines.
• Clean Up drive and rehabilitation of selected major/principal
rivers in the country.

Future targets, plans, issues and challenges
of water environment governanceTargets Metro Manila and for Areas Outside Metro Manila• By 2037, 100 percent of all households (with projected population of 15
million ) and commercial establishments within Metro Manila should haveconnected to sewer lines for the wastewater treatment facilities/plants to be
put up and operated by the Manila Water Company and Maynilad Water Services Co.
in line with the 25 year contracts signed between said companies and thegovernment through the MWSS;• All LGUs should have developed septage management systems and the 17 highly
urbanized cities have developed sewerage systems by 2022 per Philippine Development
Plan (PDP).
• By 2022, approximately 43.6 million people have access to SpTPs and about 3.2 million
will have access to STPs.
• By 2022, PhP 26.3 billion has been invested in sanitation improvement projects.
• By 2022, about 346 million kg of BOD is diverted from the environment per year as aresult of the sewerage and septage management projects

Issues and challenges needed to be addressed to Improve Water
Environment Governance• Increase access to the new knowledge and technologies generated
from international R&D standards for the effective and efficientmanagement of domestic wastewater through WEPA
• Participation to the global or regional network for the access to
information on improved approaches/strategies, and access tofinancial and technical assistance in the development of thecountry’s comprehensive domestic wastewater treatment systems andfacilities; and• With the foundation for sustainable water quality management
already laid out, the main challenge now lies in the continuation ofexisting water quality management policies and programs torehabilitate and preserve the quality of the country’s water bodies,and ultimately, achieve and sustain quality life for future generations

Manila Bay

Thank you