CL officials unite vs. future water crisis
CLARK FIELD: Central Luzon leaders agreed to manage water usage in the region through the establishment of water regulatory boards in provinces to prevent a possible water crisis.
“We will face this problem in the next 20 years, and we must start solving it today,” said Rene Diaz, presidential assistant for Central Luzon, at the conclusion of the integrated water-management workshop for Central Luzon here over the weekend.
Diaz referred to the warnings of experts that the region is facing water crisis by 2025 or sooner.
Participants from local governments and concerned government agencies in the region led by the National Economic and Development Authority presented on Saturday a joint draft resolution which, Diaz said, he will present to the President.
The resolution was the result of three multisectoral workshops conducted on Friday afternoon after the presentations of experts from different fields.
The workshops covered the areas of water-resource management, institutional arrangements, advocacy and water valuation and pricing, and risks and vulnerability management.
For water-resource management, Dr. Honorato Angeles of the Central Luzon State University said that insufficient forest cover diminishes water supply for agriculture and threatens communities in low-lying areas with perennial flooding.
Angeles advocated watershed rehabilitation by international funding agencies.
For institutional arrangements, advocacy and water valuation and pricing, a group led by Gov. Josie de la Cruz of Bulacan proposed the localization of water use and the establishment of water boards in the provinces to manage water resources.
De la Cruz’s group noted that, though water is free, concessionaries profit from its distribution.
The group advocated rainwater harvesting and artificial recharging of the region’s underground water table.
For risks and vulnerability management, a group led by Vice Gov. Joseller Guiao of Pampanga cited the lack of integration in baseline data for hazard mapping, the man-made aggravation of flooding and the inadequate watershed management.
Guiao’s group advocated the termination of useless flood-control projects.
However, the participants questioned the implementation of the resolution and the financing of its proposed projects.
Rep. Lorna Silverio of Bulacan suggested that the 5-percent environmental charges collected by the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) concessionaires from its consumers should contribute to the budget.
During the summit, Silverio expressed bewilderment as to where the MWSS puts the collected 5-percent environmental charges from consumers.
“We will face this problem in the next 20 years, and we must start solving it today,” said Rene Diaz, presidential assistant for Central Luzon, at the conclusion of the integrated water-management workshop for Central Luzon here over the weekend.
Diaz referred to the warnings of experts that the region is facing water crisis by 2025 or sooner.
Participants from local governments and concerned government agencies in the region led by the National Economic and Development Authority presented on Saturday a joint draft resolution which, Diaz said, he will present to the President.
The resolution was the result of three multisectoral workshops conducted on Friday afternoon after the presentations of experts from different fields.
The workshops covered the areas of water-resource management, institutional arrangements, advocacy and water valuation and pricing, and risks and vulnerability management.
For water-resource management, Dr. Honorato Angeles of the Central Luzon State University said that insufficient forest cover diminishes water supply for agriculture and threatens communities in low-lying areas with perennial flooding.
Angeles advocated watershed rehabilitation by international funding agencies.
For institutional arrangements, advocacy and water valuation and pricing, a group led by Gov. Josie de la Cruz of Bulacan proposed the localization of water use and the establishment of water boards in the provinces to manage water resources.
De la Cruz’s group noted that, though water is free, concessionaries profit from its distribution.
The group advocated rainwater harvesting and artificial recharging of the region’s underground water table.
For risks and vulnerability management, a group led by Vice Gov. Joseller Guiao of Pampanga cited the lack of integration in baseline data for hazard mapping, the man-made aggravation of flooding and the inadequate watershed management.
Guiao’s group advocated the termination of useless flood-control projects.
However, the participants questioned the implementation of the resolution and the financing of its proposed projects.
Rep. Lorna Silverio of Bulacan suggested that the 5-percent environmental charges collected by the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) concessionaires from its consumers should contribute to the budget.
During the summit, Silverio expressed bewilderment as to where the MWSS puts the collected 5-percent environmental charges from consumers.
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