Establishment of the Asia
Wastewater Management
Partnership (AWaP)
Rosemarie B. Del Rosario, DSD
Chief, Environmental and Social Safeguards Division, Planning Service
Department of Public Works and Highways
Republic of the Philippines

Current and Future Challengesof Wastewater Management inthe Philippines
In the Perspective of the National Sewerage and Septage
Management Program (NSSMP) of the Department of Public
Works and Highways (DPWH)

Overview of the National Sewerage and Septage Management Program (NSSMP)

Republic Act 9275 s. 2004, “Philippine Clean Water
Act of 2004”
Section 7. National Sewerage and Septage Management Program(NSSMP).
The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), through its
relevant attached agencies, in coordination with the Department,
local government units (LGUs) and other concerned agencies, shall, assoon as possible, but in no case exceeding a period of twelve (12)months from the affectivity of this Act, prepare a national program on
sewerage and septage management in connection with Section 8hereof.

NSSMP Subsidy Coverage
Original
Subsidy: 40% of project cost
Coverage: Sewerage projects
only
Beneficiaries: 17 Highly
Urbanized Cities (HUCs)

Amended*Subsidy: 50% of project cost
Coverage: Sewerage and/or
Septage Projects
Beneficiaries: 17 HUCs, non
HUCs, 1st Class Municipalities*Due to the hesitations of the HUCs in applying for the subsidy, and the interest of some non-HUCs, DPWH proposed for theamendments to the Program.

Institutional Arrangement

Status of the NSSMP
Since 2012, the Department has received the following*:
Seven Letters of Intent
Puerto Galera
Baguio City
Zamboanga City
Angeles City
General Santos City

Four Application Letters
Naga City
Roxas City
Cotabato City
Zamboanga City

Olongapo CityIsabela CityTo date, Zamboanga City application is qualified for the 50% NG subsidy*Highly-Urbanized Cities (HUC)s in bold

Current and Future Challenges

Key Challenges
The issues that fuelled the HUCs’ hesitations are basically the challenges
the Philippines faces with regard to Wastewater Management.
High cost of sewerage systemsi.
ii.

Estimates vary widely but range from ₱5,000 to ₱10,000 per capita
HUCs opting for septage programs as an initial phase (cost ranges from ₱230-₱445 percapita)

Lack of political will, slow passage of local ordinance
LGU-Water District conflict
Lack of funding for feasibility studies for sewerage and septage projects

Key Challenges
Inadequate technical and financial capacity in implementing
sewerage projects
Local Government Units (LGUs) at the moment are incapable of implementing
sanitation projects by administration due to budget constraints and technical capacity.
With the amendment on the NSSMP, applications for the subsidy are expected toincrease. To ensure the efficient implementation of the Program, the DPWH staff
involved needs to be strengthened and increased in number.

Sustainability of existing sewerage/septage management facilities
LGUs and their respective local Water Districts also need to be equipped to ensure thesustainable operation of sanitation facilities.

Enforcement of Clean Water Act is not strict enoughExpectations on AWaPThe Intended activities of AWaP (Information Sharing & Network,Information Platform and Conduct of Co-Projects) are expected toincrease the technical capacity of developing countries like thePhilippines in implementing sanitation projects.
Furthermore, these activities open more learning opportunities throughtechnology transfers, collaborative projects, training workshops &seminars, etc. for the development of sanitation projects.
We also expect that member countries of AWaP provide financial
assistance to the LGUs of the Philippines in the implementation of theNSSMP.

Expectations on AWaPThe Intended activities of AWaP (Information Sharing & Network,Information Platform and Conduct of Co-Projects) are expected toincrease the technical capacity of developing countries like thePhilippines in implementing sanitation projects.
Furthermore, these activities open more learning opportunities throughtechnology transfers, collaborative projects, training workshops &seminars, etc. for the development of sanitation projects.
We also expect that member countries of AWaP provide financial
assistance to the LGUs of the Philippines in the implementation of theNSSMP.

Collaboration Between WEPA and AWaP

Opinions on the Draft Action Items
1. Information Sharing and Networking Through Meetings
Conducting regular meetings between member countries is agreat opportunity to learn from the experiences and bestpractices of each member country.
The meetings are also an avenue to discuss national issues
relevant to AWaP as a whole and to come up with solutions toaddress issues specifically on legislation and organization.
Furthermore, they are also an avenue to negotiate
financial/technical assistance in implementing sanitation projects
with other member countries.

Opinions on the Draft Action Items
2. Provide Practical Knowledge and Know-how through Information
Platform
Tapping JICA/MLIT/MOE projects as sources of needed
information for the web-based platform allows for a moreaccurate database from which the member countries can glean
from.
It is suggested that JICA/MLIT/MOE be also tapped for theinformation sharing and conduct of co-projects, since theirexpertise on the subject matter would benefit the membercountries a great deal.

Opinions on the Draft Action Items
3. Conduct Co-Projects to Tackle with Common Issues
This is a very promising endeavour for AWaP, as this allows
developing countries such as the Philippines to learn from and beassisted by developed countries that are proficient in wastewater
treatment technologies such as Japan.
Furthermore, the preparation of guidelines to address common
issues will help a great deal in the implementation of relevant
infrastructures in the countries involved.

Collaboration between AWaP and WEPA

Collaboration between AWaP and WEPA
Upon reviewing both Programs, we have found that the AWaP andWEPA basically have the same objective: the improvement of thewater environment in Asia through information sharing.
To prevent duplicity of work, since the WEPA publication is mainly
concerned with providing “the most up-to-date and useful
information on the water environment and its management inAsia,” it is suggested that AWaP focuses on the preparation ofguidelines and manuals to address common technical/legislative
challenges to project implementation.

Collaboration between AWaP and WEPA
Furthermore, we suggest that WEPA be tapped as a source of
information needed to prepare the AWaP guidelines and manuals.
We suggest that WEPA act as the body that will consolidate thenecessary information while AWaP acts as the body that utilizes
the said information to prepare the guidelines and manuals.

Maraming Salamat po!
(Thank you very much!)