1Updates of Water Environment Governancein the Philippines
Vicente B. Tuddao, Jr., PhD., CESO IV
Director III
Department of Environment and Natural Resources
Engr. Erlinda Gonzales
Technical Officer
Environmental Management Bureau
National Capital Region

30 January, 2024
The 19thAnnual Meeting in Hayama, Japan

Goals of Water Environment in the Philippines:
Pursuant to the Philippine Development Plan (2023-2028),
Outcome 2, Environmental Quality Improved through Waste
Minimization and Expansion of Monitoring and Enforcement ofWater Quality Standards.
Specifically, it was targeted to increase percentage of water bodies
conforming with Water Quality Guideline values according to its
intended use:

Water Supply: 50% by 2028
Food Production: 50% by 2028
Primary contact Recreation Use:
69% by 2028

Philippine Development Plan, 2023-2028, Results matrix, Table 2.3.2

2023

2024

2025

2026

2027

2028

Status of Water Environment
THE WATER RESOURCES OF THE PHILIPPINES

Coastal & Marine Waters
 Covers an area of about 266,000 square kilometers, including
bays and gulfs
 Coastline stretches to about 36,289 km
 Coral reefs cover about 27,000 square km
 64 of the 79 provinces are in coastal areasInland Waters

source:suzannelopez.neocities.org

 Ground Water – aggregate area of about 50,000 square km
 79 total number of lakes (23 major lakes with surface area
greater than 1 km². Its total area is 1918.01 km²)
 Rivers
 18 major rivers (drainage area not less than 1,400 km²)
comprises 1/3 of the total land area of the country
 421 principal rivers (drainage area not less than 40 km² )Major river basins with drainage areas

Cagayan river basin

Manila bay

Laguna lake

Pasig-Laguna riverbasin

Laguna lake

Cagayan De Ororiver basin

Pasig river

Cagayan de Ororiver basin

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

Intended Beneficial UseClass AA

Public Water Supply Class I – Intended primarily for waters having watersheds, which areuninhabited and otherwise protected, and which require only approved disinfection tomeet the Philippine National Standards for Drinking Water (PNSDW)A

Public Water Supply Class II – For sources of water supply requiring conventional
treatment (coagulation, sedimentation, filtration and disinfection) to meet the latest
PNSDW
Recreational Water Class I – intended for primary contact recreation (bathing, swimming,skin diving, etc.)

AABCD•••

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)

Navigable waters

COASTAL AND MARINE WATERSClass SA1) Protected Waters – Waters Designated as national or local marine parks, reserves, sanctuaries, and otherareas established by law (Presidential Proclamation 1801 and other existing laws), and/or declared assuch by appropriate government agency. LGUs, etc.
2) Fishery Water Class I – Suitable for shellfish harvesting for direct human consumption

Class SB

1) Fishery Water Class II – Waters suitable for commercial propagation of shellfish and intended as
spawning areas for milkfish (Chanos chanos) and similar species
2) Tourist Zones – for ecotourism and recreational activities
3) Recreational Water Class I – Intended for primary contact recreation (bathing, swimming, skin diving,etc.)

Class SC

1) Fishery Water Class III – For the Propagation and growth of fish and other aquatic resources andindented for commercial and sustenance fishing2) Recreational Water Class II – For boating, fishing, or similar activities
3) Marshy and/or mangrove areas declared as fish and wildlife sanctuaries

Class SD

Navigable waters

Number of water bodies classified indicating WQ classification:

A total of 904 water bodies wereclassified in terms of best usage
and water quality (2019)• 794 are inland surface waters (780 riversand 14 lakes)• 110 are coastal and marine waters

Marikina riverClass C

Since water bodies have several
beneficial uses, some are classified
differently per each or portion. Of
the 794 classified water bodies, 216have multiple classifications. Example
is Marikina river in National Capital
Region has 2 classifications: Class A in
its upstream and Class C in thedownstream

Methodology for assessing andcomparing water bodies:

Source: National Water Quality Status Report, 2014-2019. DENR EMB, 2020

Pollution Sources
Sources of Water Pollution(Pollution from Key Potential Sources)
Sugar Mills Pulp and Paper Mills Alcohol
Distillery Glass Manufacturing Food
Processing Copper Smelting Cement Kilns
Plastic and Consumer Products

Source: National Water Quality Status Report, EMB 2001-2005

STATUS OF WASTEWATER TREATMENT FACILITIES IN THEPHILIPPINES
Based on the Data from EMB CO, from 25 Sept 2017 to 31 January 2022*:• Domestic Sewage accounts for 47.09% of the total classification of Wastewater
Treatment Facilities (WTF) nationwide• Commercial Wastewater Treatment facilities at 27.35%• Industrial Wastewater Treatment facilities at 22.01%• Centralized Treatment Facilities at 0.54%• Others, 3.01%* Reported during the celebration of thePhilippine Water Week on March 22,2022, Wastewater Treatment Best
Practices Forum, March 22, 2022 (EMBCO)

Measures to Address Issues (Interventions Undertaken)• Metro Manila Water concessionaires (Manila Water Company and Maynilad WaterServices, Inc.) are being closely monitored by MWSS to fast tract the implementationof their concession agreement for the completion of the establishment ofwastewater treatment facility targets.

Measures to Address Issues (Interventions Undertaken)• Regular monitoring of the water bodies• Clean up activities• Active participation of the multi-stakeholders (NGAs, LGUs, Barangays, private
sectors and NGOs) through the Water Quality Areas (WQMA) Governing Board• Private sectors/Companies are encourage to adopt nearby creeks/esteros as part oftheir Corporate Social Responsibilities (CSR) under the Adopt-an-Estero Water Body
Program• Regular monitoring of commercial and industrial establishments that are within thevicinities of the water bodies

Wastewater Discharge Permits Issued by Region (2014-2019)
SEC. 14 of Clean Water
Act. Discharge Permits. –The Department shall
National Capital Region (NCR)
requireowners or operatorsof facilities that discharge
regulated effluents
pursuant to this Act tosecure a permit todischarge. The discharge
permit shall be the legal
authorization granted bythe DENR to dischargewastewater: Provided, Thatthe discharge permit shallspecify among others, thequantity and quality ofeffluent that said facilities
are allowed to discharge

Water Quality Management Programs• Adopt-an-Estero/waterbody Program• Water Quality Management Area
• Priority Rivers (Sagip Ilog Program)• Priority Recreational Waters/Bathing Beaches(Beach Watch Program)• Industrial Eco-watch Program• Public Awareness and Education Programs onWater Quality Management

Major Programs on Water Quality Enhancement
and Rehabilitation• Issuance of wastewater discharge permits• Rehabilitation of Boracay coastal waters• Rehabilitation of Manila Bay

BeforeBoracay
AfterRehabilitation

20152023

ManilaBay

The Manila Bay Clean Up Program

The Manila Bay covers 8 provinces and 178 Local Government Unitsin 3 regions: NCR, Region IVA and Region III. Four of the provinces
are coastal namely: Bataan, Cavite, Pampanga and Bulacan. The otherfour are non-coastal namely: Laguna, Nueva Ecija, Rizal and Tarlac

Environmental Management Bureau Monitoring Stations

The results of water quality monitoring show that fecal coliform count of all
monitoring stations of EMB NCR and Region IVA exceed the Water Quality
Guidelines (WQG) for class SB of 100 MPN/100mL. In terms of Dissolve
Oxygen concentration, majority of the monitoring stations of EMB Region IV-A
are compliant with WQG for class SB of 6 mg/L.

The rehabilitation of Manila Bay is being done into 3 phases:• Phase 1 – Clean Up/Water Quality Improvemento Cleanup of designated esteros and waterways;
o Reduction of fecal coliform level and toxic discharge from houses and establishments by causing connection to existing
STPs for gov’t commercial, industrial, and educational establishments;o Inspection and repair of leaks in old sewer lines;
o Provision of temporary sanitation facilities for informal settlers residing along esteros and shorelines pending relocation;o Implementation of solid waste managemento Planning for the relocation of informal settlers
Aside from the full• Phase 2 – Rehabilitation and Resettlemento Rehabilitation of old sewer lines in NCR;o Relocation of informal settlers;
o Ensuring completion of 3340 MLD of Maynilad and Metro Manila from by 2022

• Phase 3 – Education and Sustainment

implementation of Operational
Plan for the Manila Bay Coastal
Strategy (OPMBCS) andregular coordination with other
Mandamus agencies, DENR is
tasked to manage water qualityof Manila Bay thru standards
setting, regular monitoring, anddetermination of WQMA.

o Continuing education of citizens to protect the gains;o Sustained law enforcement and monitoringo Fast tracking/earlier completion of the sewerage system in Metro Manila from 2037 to 20 2026

There has been considerable
99.95% reduction of fecal
coliform concentration(geomean) monitored as ofDecember, 2023 relative to2017 base-year (Manila BayBathing Beaches MonitoringStations)*

Manila Bay Rehabilitation ProgramThere has been considerable 95.64%
reduction of fecal coliform
concentration (geomean) monitored
as of December, 2023 relative to2015 base-year (Manila Bay River
Outfall Monitoring Stations)*

Evaluation of Outcome and Policy Revision/Updating
The Philippine Clean Water
Act of 2004 (Republic ActNo. 9275) , provides for theabatement and control ofpollution from the land
based sources, and lays
down water quality
standards and regulations.
The Act shall apply to water
quality management in all
water bodies: fresh, brackish
and marine waters.

PhilippineClean Water
Act of 2004

DAO 1990-34

DAO 2021-19
Updated Water
Quality Guidelines
DAO 2016-08
and General Effluent
Water Quality
Standards for Selected
Guidelines and General Parameters
Effluent Standards(R.A. 9275)

Revised Water Usage and Classification/Water Quality
Criteria amending Section 68 and 69,III of the 1978
NPCC Rules and Regulations
PD 1586, s1978 Establishing Environmental Impact
Statement System including other Environmental
Management related Measures and for other Purposes

Covers updating WQG and GES
for the following parameters:
Ammonia as NH3-N
BoronCopper as Dissolved Copper
Fecal Coliform
Phosphate as Phosporus(Total, Reactive)
SulfateChallenges and Future Plans• Provision of sufficient resources to implement water quality
management programs and activities• Improvement of sewerage, sanitation and solid waste management• Encroachment of informal settlers along water bodies• Sustaining awareness campaign and public-private partnerships• Addressing emerging threats to water quality such as antimicrobial
resistance and microplastics

Best Practices in Water Environment Governance• Inter-agency and multi-sectoral approach on the management of waterbodies• Water quality monitoring• Policy and enforcement• Physical/structural interventions and engineering controls• Information, education and communication campaign and advocacy• Initiatives from LGUs, civil society and other stakeholders

Thank You

References:• DENR Administrative Order No. 2016-08 Water Quality Guidelines and GeneralEffluent Standards• DENR Administrative Order No. 2021-19 Updated Water Quality Guidelines andGeneral Effluent Standards for Selected Parameters• National Water Quality Status Report, 2014-2019. DENR EMB, 2020
• National Water Quality Status Report, 2007-2014. DENR EMB, 2015
• Philippine Statistics Authority. Psa.gov.ph• RA 9275 or The Philippine Clean Water Act of 2004 and Its Implementing Rules andRegulations