Republic of the Philippines
Department of Environment and Natural Resources

POLICY RESEARCH ON WATER ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
AND COLLABORATION FRAMEWORK BETWEEN POLICY MAKERS
AND RESEARCHERS IN THE PHILIPPINES

Vicente B. Tuddao, Jr., Ph.D.
Director for Governance and Enforcement
Department of Environment and Natural Resources
Philippines
Paper presented during the 11th International Symposium on Southeast Asian Water Environment Environment, Asian
Institute of Technology (AIT), Bangkok, Thailand, November 27‐28, 2014

Republic of the Philippines
Department of Environment and Natural Resources

Presentation Outline:• Freshwater resources in the Philippines• The Department of Environment and Natural Resources: vision and core functions• Major Issues on Water Environmental Management in the Philippines• Causes of Pollution of water resources‐surface water• The Philippine Environmental Management Framework• Major institutions involved in water governance in the Philippines• Policy review and approval process• Evolution of laws and policies on water environment• Priority Policy Oriented Research Needs• Policy –Oriented Research on Water Environmental Management• Current and expected role of experts and researchers in policy making Process

Republic of the Philippines
Department of Environment and Natural ResourcesRepublic of the Philippines
Department of Environment and Natural Resources

FRESH WATER RESOURCES OF THE COUNTRY• 421 PRINCIPAL RIVER BASINS (DRANAGE AREA>40 SQ. KM.)
• 18 MAJOR RIVER BASINS (DRAINAGE AREA > 1,400 SQ. KM.)
• 72 LAKES• EXTENSIVE GROUNDWATER AQUIFERS (50,000 SQ. KM.)

Republic of the Philippines
Department of Environment and Natural Resources

BACKGROUND :• TOTAL POPULATION:•••••(As of October, 2014 estimated)
TOTAL LAND AREA:TOTAL NUMBER OF ISLANDS:
CLIMATE:ANNUAL AVE. RAINFALL:
ESTIMATED ANNUAL SURFACEAND GROUNDWATER WATERAVAILABILITY:

100 Million
300,000 km²
7,107
Tropical Humid
2,400 mm

146 billion cubic metersRepublic of the Philippines
Department of Environment and Natural ResourcesRepublic of the Philippines
Department of Environment and Natural Resources

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources:
Vision and Core Functions
Vision: A nation enjoying and sustaining its natural resources and clean andhealthy environment
Core Functions:• Formulate and implement policies, guidelines, rules and regulations relating toenvironmental management and pollution prevention and control.
• Formulate, implement and supervise the government's policies, plans and programs
pertaining to the management, conservation, development, use and replenishment of
the country's natural resources and ecological diversity.
• Promulgate and implement rules and regulations governing the exploration,development, extraction, disposition, and use of the forests, lands, minerals, wildlife,
and other natural resources.

Republic of the Philippines
Department of Environment and Natural Resources

Major Issues on Water Environmental Managementin the Philippines• Pollution of water bodies from point sources
and non‐point sources• Governance issue Weak law enforcement
 Institutional fragmentation (Overlapping functions ofvarious government agencies mandated on watermanagement )Republic of the Philippines
Department of Environment and Natural Resources

Pollution of water resources‐surface water (rivers, lakes, inlandwater) and groundwater are mainly due to:• Inadequate sewerage and sanitation facilities• Inadequate solid wastes management facilities• Improper Agricultural Practices• Inadequate Industrial/commercial waste disposal facilities• Deforestation• Land DevelopmentRepublic of the Philippines
Department of Environment and Natural Resources

General Sources of Pollution of Water Bodies in the Philippines
Sources

Percentage Share

Domestic Wastewater

33%

Agricultural Wastewater

29%

Industrial Wastewater

27%

Non-Point Sources

11%

TOTAL

100%

Percentage Distribution of Pollution Sources Affecting Major
Surface Water of Metro Manila(Pasig River and Laguna Lake)Republic of the Philippines
Department of Environment and Natural Resources

The Philippine Environmental Management Framework:
Guiding Principles (Also serves as basis for policy research framework onwater environment)

PrecautionaryPrinciple• Evidence of damage• Needs immediate action

Polluters Payprinciple• Payment for the wastewater discharge• Strict monitoring

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

Republic of the Philippines
Department of Environment and Natural Resources

The Philippine Environmental Management Framework:
Guiding Principles (Also serves as basis for policy research framework onwater environment)

Subsidiarity
Principle• Role of Stakeholders in decision making andplanning• Water Quality Management Board

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

Principle

Major institutions involved in water governance in the Philippines
NEDA

DPWH

NWRB

NIA

DENR

PNOC

NPC

DOH

Water uses

Watershed

Water quality

Management

ManagementMonitoring

LWUA

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

LGUs

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 Decree1067• 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

Environmental
Code (1997)
Environmental Impact
Statement (1978)
Water code ofthe Philippines(1976)
Sanitation
Code (1975)

CleanWaterAct(2004)

Evolution of Water Quality Policies
and Legislation in the Philippines
Next Action:
Way Forward (2015‐2016)

Water Code ofthe Philippines(1976)

Environmental
Code (1997)

Environmental Impact
System (1978)
Sanitation code(1975)

Clean Water
Act (2004)

Policy review andamendment of
Water Code of thePhilippines(1976)

Policy review ofthe Philippine
clean Water Actof 2004

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.

NEDA Board
Policy Agenda/Plans
Identification/Priorities

DENR, DPWH, DOH,
D DOE, & DA, DBM,DOST, etc

Committee on
infrastructures/Sub‐Committee
on Water Resources/Sub‐Committee on Water Supply andSanitation

Policy Research/Studies

Senate/Congress (Senate/House Bills)
Drafting of Policy
Proposals/Bills/Executive Order/DAO

Executive Order (EO), MC etc./Office of
the President

PolicyResearch/Studies

DAO‐ National Government Agency

Consultation with
Stakeholders/ PublicHearings

Senate/Congress and Concerned
Government Agencies

Submission/Deliberatio
n of Final Draft Policy isCongress/Senate as
House/Senate Bills

Senate/Congress and Concerned
Government Agencies

Review/approval ofHouse/Senate Bills intoa Law(if disapproved/vetoes
byy OP))

Legend:OP‐ Office of the President
DENR‐ Department of Environment and Natural
Resources
DPWH‐Department of Public Works andHighways
DOE‐ Department of Energy
DA‐ Department of Agriculture
NEDA‐ National Economic and Development
Authority
IRR‐ Implementing Rules and RegulationsDAO‐ Department Administrative Order

Preparation of IRR
PolicyImplementation(with Funding
Release from DBM

Post‐Implementation
Assessment/Evaluation

Policy Research/Studies

Policy Reviewand approval
Flow‐Process

Republic of the Philippines
Department of Environment and Natural Resources

Policy –Oriented Research on Water Environmental
Management in the Philippines•Aim to analyse and evaluate laws, regulations andother policy mechanisms concerning water
environmental issues and water environmental
management sustainability. These issues may
focus water pollution and water environmental
governance concerns.

Republic of the Philippines
Department of Environment and Natural Resources

Priority Policy Oriented Research Needs

Republic of the Philippines
Department of Environment and Natural Resources• Policy studies to Support Public Policy on Water Pollution
Control and Mitigation
 Policy research on the development of mechanisms for the production aand deployment of cost‐effective domestic wastewater treatment
facilities especially in urban areas, with defined appropriate
incentive system.
 Efficient mechanism to monitor the operation ofindustrial and commercial wastewater treatment facilities especially
Small and Medium Enterprises (SMIs) under the existing law and regulations

Republic of the Philippines
Department of Environment and Natural Resources• As an input to public policy on water environmental
management decision tools: Development of mathematical/statistical models to forecast andestimate nutrient/ organic pollution loadings (spatial and temporal)from pollution sources to river systems and to develop/implement
mitigation measures Mathematical models to estimate siltation and sediment flows ininland freshwater resources and to develop mitigation measures Mathematical models to estimate pollution of groundwater aquifers
and to develop mitigation measuresRepublic of the Philippines
Department of Environment and Natural Resources• Policy Research to Support Public Policy on Water Environmental Governanceand Institutional Development
 Review and Assessment of the implementation of the Clean Water Act(Republic Act of 2004) including the identification of law enforcement
gaps and weaknesses, funding mechanism inadequacies, CSO
participation and governance issue for possible amendment of thepolicy to be more relevant and effective.
 Development/Assessment of mechanism on the use of market‐based
instrument or valuation system such as payment of disposal of
untreated wastewater into the water systems/water bodies (Polluters
Pay Principle)
 Development of Public Policy strategies on the enhancement of private
sector investment into water environmental management through amechanism that may encourage Public‐Private Partnership or any
appropriate investment variants.

Republic of the Philippines
Department of Environment and Natural Resources Development and implementation of efficient monitoring

system for the compliance of the Industries and SMIs on
wastewater management
 Assessment of the strategies and procedures in the management
Water Quality Management Areas (WAQMA) in critical watersheds
in line with Clean Water Act of 2004,
 Assessment of capacity development strategies and advocacy
plans and programs and recommend approaches to intensify
awareness and involvement of the Civil Society Groups ,Stakeholders and government agencies in the control andprevention of water pollution.
 Evaluation and critical /sensitivity analysis of the existing water
environment monitoring system in rivers and other water bodies,and creation and mobilization of a multi‐sectoral monitoring team.

Republic of the Philippines
Department of Environment and Natural Resources Development of mechanisms to operationalize an ecosystems
approach in managing water environment.

Republic of the Philippines
Department of Environment and Natural Resources

Current Role of Experts and Researchers in Policy
making Process in the Philippines• Conduct Studies /researches for the development of a more
relevant laws/policies, strategies and mechanisms for a more
effective and rationale water environmental management andgovernance• Review and assessment of the existing laws relating to water
environmental management, and recommend new strategies
and management approaches• Development of numerical models and database management
systems for water environmental monitoring and as decision
tools• Support government in the education campaign and awarenesson water environmental issues

Republic of the Philippines
Department of Environment and Natural Resources

Expected Research topic Related with Water Environment
Expected to Researchers
Topic focused on:•Review and assessment of the existing Clean Water Act•

Development of an appropriate mechanism and design of low cost
domestic wastewater treatment facilities, including tariff
system/market based valuation system, connection system andmonitoring.

•Development and operation of suitable pollution loading estimation
models in rivers and lakes as decision tool•

Design and assessment of capacity development plans and programsand recommend/pilot testing of re‐designed strategies

Republic of the Philippines
Department of Environment and Natural Resources

Expected Role of Experts and Researchers in Policy Making Process• Collaborate with policy makers and provide expert opinion on the weaknesses
and gaps on the current water environmental policies supported by science‐
based research studies•

Continuously conduct relevant policy research and inform the government on
their findings to encourage review and amendment of the existing laws, rules
and regulations•Provide expert contribution in the identification of the government policy
research agendaRepublic of the Philippines
Department of Environment and Natural Resources

Expected Role of Experts and Researchers in Policy Making Process• Collaborate with policy makers and provide expert opinion on the weaknesses
and gaps on the current water environmental policies supported by science‐
based research studies•

Continuously conduct relevant policy research and inform the government on
their findings to encourage review and amendment of the existing laws, rules
and regulations•Provide expert contribution in the identification of the government policy
research agenda

Republic of the Philippines
Department of Environment and Natural ResourcesExpected Role of Experts and Researchers in Policy Making Process•

Serves as partner by the government policy makers in the promotion ofresponsive and acceptable and good water quality to provide efficient
access to clean water and availability to all.

•Critical to good environmental governance through participation to water
environmental or water quality monitoring and information and education
campaign

Republic of the Philippines
Department of Environment and Natural Resources

Thank you