By Katrina Gracia Consebido
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. approved the establishment of a Water Resource Management Office (WRMO) to manage the country’s water resources and address environmental challenges, Malacañang said Wednesday, Feb. 1.
Marcos stressed during a multi-sectoral meeting in Malacañang the need for a water management plan to guide waste management agencies.
“Kaya nga kailangan sumunod sa plano. That’s why we have to strengthen the mandate of the Water Management Office,” Marcos said.
“We have to bring them together so that they are allowing the overall plan,” he added.
This as he noted the need for a “cohesive” relationship with the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS), Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA), the Water Board, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), and the MWRO.
The reduction of the reliance on groundwater and deep wells and the management of surface water supply were the WRMO’s first steps proposed by Marcos.
“That’s as far as I could tell. We have sufficient… There’s enough water in the Philippines hindi lang natin ginagamit, tinatapon natin,” Marcos said.
The National Water Resources Board (NWRB), MWSS, LWUA, and other water-related agencies will collaborate under the WRMO to implement water management programs through an executive order that has yet to be issued.
Before a Water Resources Department is created, the DENR will oversee the WRMO as it implements the Integrated Water Management Plan (IWMP).
The IWMP, which will guide the WRMO, will address environmental issues and manage water resources through a government-wide effort.
The WRMO and the Presidential Legislative Liaison Office will also work to pass a law creating an apex body, collaborate with local government units, the private sector, civil society, and communities, and perform other DENR functions. -ag
