WATER ENVIRONMENT AND
MANAGEMENT FRAMEWORKIN THE PHILIPPINES
Vicente B. Tuddao,Jr Ph.D.
Erlinda Gonzales
Department of Environment and Natural Resources

Presented during the 9th WEPA Annual Conference and Seminar, Tokyo and Yokohama, Japan January 21-24,2014
Maria Cristina Falls, Agus River BasinBACKGROUND :TOTAL POPULATION:

100 Million

TOTAL LAND AREA:

300,000 km²

TOTAL NUMBER OF ISLANDS: 7,107
CLIMATE:TROPICAL HUMID

ANNUAL AVE. RAINFALL:

2,400 mm

ESTIMATED ANNUAL SURFACEAND GROUNDWATER WATERAVAILABILITY:
146 billion cubic meters

FRESH WATER RESOURCES OF THE COUNTRY• 421 PRINCIPAL RIVER BASINS (DRANAGE AREA>40 SQ. KM.)
•18 MAJOR RIVER BASINSKM.)(DRAINAGE AREA > 1,400 SQ.

•

72 LAKES•

EXTENSIVE GROUNDWATER AQUIFERS (50,000 SQ. KM.)

Pollution of water resources‐surface water (rivers,lakes, coastal) and groundwater are mainly due to:• Inadequate sewerage and sanitation facilities• Improper solid wastes management• Improper Agricultural Practices• Improper Industrial waste disposal• Deforestation• Land Development

General Sources of Pollution of Water
Bodies in the Philippines
Sources

Percentage ShareDomestic Wastewater

33%

Agricultural Wastewater

29%

Industrial Wastewater

27%

Non-Point Sources

11%

TOTAL

100%

The Philippine Environmental Management Framework:
Guiding Principles

PrecautionaryPrinciple• Evidence of damage• Needs immediate action

Polluters Pay
principle• Payment for the wastewater discharge• Strict monitoring

Users Pay
Principle• Payment for using water resources• Preferential rights and tariff system

The Philippine Environmental Management Framework:
Guiding Principles

Subsidiarity
Principle• Role of Stakeholders in decision makingand planning• Water Quality Management Board

The guiding principles are founded on goodenvironmental governance through effective
Users
legalPay
and institutional Framework

Principle

Major institutions involved in water governancein the Philippines
NEDADPWH

NWRB

NIA

DENR

PNOC

NPC

DOH

Water uses

Watershed

Water quality

Management

Management

Monitoring

LWUA

LGUs

NEDA – National Economic and Development Authority
DPWH –Department of Public Works and Highways
NWRB- National Water Resources Board
NIA- NationalIrrigation Authority
LWUA-Local Water Utilities Administration
LGUs-Local Government Units

DILG

MWSS

DENR-Department of Environment and Natural Resources
PNOC- Philippine National
NPC- National Power Corporation
DOH-Department of Health
DILG- Department of Interior and Local Government
MWSS- Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System

Laws and Policies•Sanitation Code of the Philippines (1975), Presidential
Decree (P.D.) 856 of 1975
•Water code of the Philippines (1976) , Presidential Decree
1067•Environmental Impact Statement System (1978),Presidential Decree (P.D.) 1586
• Environmental code (1997)• Clean Water Act (2004)

Evolution of Water Quality Policies
and Legislation in the Philippines
CleanWater(2004)
EnvironmentalCode (1997)
Environmental
Impact (1978)
Water Useand WaterRights (1976)
Sanitation(1975)Classification of Inland Water Bodies
Classification

Best UsageClass AA

Waters intended as public water supply requiring only
disinfection to meet the Philippine National Standard for Safe
Drinking Water (PNSDW)Class A

Waters suitable as water supply requiring conventional treatment
to meet the PNSDWClass B

Waters intended for primary contact recreation (e.g. bathing,swimming, skin diving, etc.)

Class C

Waters for fishery, recreation/boating, and supply for
manufacturing processes after treatment

Class D

Waters intended for agriculture, irrigation, livestock watering, etc.

Recent Developments
in Water Environmental Management
and Current/Future Challenge

Recent Development:• The Philippine Government now prioritizes on themitigation of water quality deterioration in highly
urbanized centers particularly Metro Manila using
ecosystem approach.
- The Capital city of Metro Manila has a population of
15 million people;- Highly urbanized centers are most vulnerable to water
quality deterioration due to higher number of households,
commerce and industries- Untreated domestic wastewater contributes 77 % to thepollution loadings of major bodies of water in the city.
- Climate Change aggravates the water quality decline

121°00' E

121°15' E

PASIG‐LAGUNA BAY
RIVER BASIN

121°30' EN

14°45' N

14°45' N

4,678 KM SQ

14°30' N

Pasig River

14°15' N

ManilaBay

14°15' N

14°30' N

MetroManila

Laguna Lake

121°00' E

121°15' E

Water Classification:
Pasig River – Class C
Laguna Lake- Class C
Manila Bay- SB

121°30' E

Percentage Distribution of Pollution Sources Affecting
Major Surface Water of Metro Manila(Pasig River and Laguna Lake)Approaches:• The government and the two private Water Service
Utilities/Watern Concessionaires (Manila Water
Company and the Maynilad Water Services, Inc.) are
now fast tracking the completion of the installation ofDomestic Wastewater Treatment facilities/plants in
Metro Manila to achieve 100 percent coverage;

Approaches:• Strict monitoring of the compliance of Industries to Clean
Water Act on the provision of complete industrial
wastewater treatment plants and imposing immediate
sanctions and penalties to violators of the law.
• Implementation of Polluters Pay Principle (Developing
market-based instruments, payment of fees on wastewaterdischarges)

Recent Development• Strengthened partnership with the private sector/
business Groups in water environmental management
Principle of Corporate Social Responsibility(shared responsibility, common vision)- Adopt a River/Esteros/Bodies of Water Program(Now covers some 300 Corporate/Business Group(BG) nationwide committed to support the government
in the river clean-up effort and restoration within timeframe at least one BG per river)

Recent Development• Strengthened government monitoring system on thecompliance to Clean Water Act by the industries andother stakeholders, through capacity building andprivate and public investment,
including theimplementation of strict Self-Monitoring System inwater environmental management

Future Challenges in the Water Environment• Developing a systematized technical and operational
approach to water environment monitoring ;• The necessity to improve coordination and basic water
environment data collection system for an efficient andeffective flow of information;• Inadequate institutional capacity-building;• The need to address water quality decline throughecosystem approach;• Inadequate financial support to the programs/projects of
the water sector;• Weak law enforcement• Climate Change concern“tracking the sky . . . helping the country”