Water Resource Challenges in the

Philippines Philippine Team Fernando G. Sajona (Mapua University)

Lawrence P. Belo (De Lasalle University)

Reygie Q. Macasieb (University of the Philippines) Imee Bren O. Villalba (University of the Philippines)

Jerwin Lawrence C. Go (De Lasalle University)

GENERALITIES: THE PHILIPPINE SETTING

Global Tectonic Framework Cadre Téctonique Globale

Philippine Sea Plate

Eurasian Plate

10 cm/yr

7 cm/yr

7 cm/yr 9 cm/yr

5 cm/yr

TECTONIC MAP

Earthquake generators • 4 Trenches • Major fault • Volcanoes

DISTRIBUTION OF

VOLCANOES

26 Active volcanoes 27 Potentially active

volcanoes Numerous inactive volcanoes

Population Density

Land area:

301,780 km2

Population (2016):

103.3 M

PHILIPPINE CLIMATE

TYPHOON INCIDENCE

Average number of typhoons: 20 per year

Major River Basins

Groundwater Availability

GDP – Philippines et al.

Functional Chart of Water Related Agencies

Water management, policies and legislation

National Water Resources Board (NWRB) - overall government agency responsible for all the water resources in the Philippines; implements IWRM

National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) – oversees the coordination in the planning and regulation of water resources

Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) / Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) - responsible for maintaining desirable water quality and implementing water quality management programmes (classification of water bodies, water quality guidelines and effluent standards, discharge fee system and ambient effluent/monitoring, etc.

Water and Sanitation Coordination Office (WASCO) - implements the Presidents priority programme on pater for waterless municipalities.

Department of Health (DOH) - monitors the quality of drinking water and regulates premises with sanitation installations.

Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) - provides technical assistance and capability building to Local Government Units (LGUs) to help them manage water supply, sewerage and sanitation services.

Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) - responsible for flood control and drainage infrastructures.

Water management, policies and legislation

National Power Corporation (NPC) - is responsible for the development of power sources including hydropower.

Department of Agriculture, through the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) - responsible for irrigation development.

Bureau of Soils and Water Management (BSWM) - research and technologies for soil and water conservation and harnessing rainwater for agricultural use are developed for use of field extension staff of the local government units.

Agricultural Training Institute (ATI) - assists in translating the packages of technologies into information and knowledge materials for the proper conservation and management of irrigation and water for improve agricultural production.

Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) - a Government-owned corporation responsible for the provision of water, sewerage and sanitation services in Metro Manila and parts of the provinces of Cavite and the entire province of Rizal.

Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA) - governs local water districts in municipalities and cities, and review rates or charges established by local water utilities.

Laguna Lake Development Authority - quasi-government agency that leads, promotes, and accelerates sustainable development in the Laguna de Bay Region.

Policies and Legislation

The Philippine Constitution (1987) - provides for the national enabling environment and overarching policy on sustainable water use and water resources management.

The Water Code of the Philippines (1976) - consolidated the laws governing the ownership, appropriation, utilization, exploitation, development, conservation and protection of water resources.

Presidential Decree No. 424 (1974) created the National Water Resources Council (NWRC), which was renamed the National Water Resources Board (NWRB)

in 1987 by Executive Order 124-A.

Environmental Code (1997) - prescribes, among other things, the management guidelines aimed to protect and improve the quality of water resources

Local Government Code (1991) provides for the empowerment of local executives in the delivery of basic services, which includes water supply and sanitation services.

Republic Act No. 9275 (2004) Clean Water Act, applies to water quality management in all water bodies in the abatement and control of pollution from landbased sources; implementation by DENR and NWRB.

Water Resources of the Philippines

Dependable surface water supply- 125,790 MCM/year Groundwater potential: ca. 20,200 MCM/year

Classification of Water Resources in the Philippines

Water withdrawal by sector Total: 81.555 km3

Water withdrawal by source Total: 81.555 km3

Source of irrigation water on area

equipped for full control irrigation

Total 1,879,084 has.

Water Resource Potential (MCM/Yr)

Water Availability

Pressures on Local Water Resources

1) POPULATION GROWTH AND RAPID URBANIZATION Population 2017 – 103.3 million

2025 – 120.2 million 2040 – 141.7 million

2) POLLUTION Domestic sewage, industrial waste, fertilizers, pesticides and agro-

chemicals. 10% of rivers are polluted.

3) LAND CONVERSION Alters run-off patterns, inhibits natural recharge, causes siltation, alters natural flood control, water supply and quality

4) INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT Dams, dikes, levees, dicersions, etc., alters timing and quantity of river

flows, butrient and sediment transport, delta replenishment and block fish migrations.

5) OVER-HARVESTING AND EXPLOITATION Depletes groundwater; introduces contaminants; salt-water intrusion

6) CLIMATE CHANGE

POLLUTION HOTSPOTS Pollution from key potential areas

• Nine key urban centers were identified with water constraint

• 50 rivers (12%) of the 421 rivers in the country are considered biologically

dead.

• Only one third (36%) of our river systems/surface water areas are

potential sources for drinking water;

• 58% of groundwater intended for drinking water supplies are

contaminated with total coliform (and perhaps other contaminants)

POLLUTION HOTSPOTS

Pollution/contaminant from key potential areas

1) Domestic waste water – from bathing, washing, laundry, cleaning, cooking washing, and other kitchen activities; suspended solids and coliform; half of organic waste comes from domestic sector;

2) Agricultural wastewater – organic wastewater; includes organic waste, such as decayed plants, livestock manure, and dead animals; soil loss in the form of suspended solids; and pesticides and fertilizer residues (PEM 2003);

3) Industrial wastewater – varies by type of industry and scale of production; organic pollution sources mostly come from food manufacturing (piggeries, slaughterhouses). About 700 industrial establishments in the Philippines generate about 273,000 tons of hazardous wastes per annum.

4) Non-point sources – difficult to monitor and control; organic and inorganic contaminants including heavy metals, poly-organic and biological pathogenic toxins.

5) Natural sources – Some areas have natural contents of HM and As.

BOD generation per region

Adaptation Strategies

Policy and Regulation Challenges

1) Existing regulatory set-up in the Philippines is quite complicated and poses problems on conflicts of interests and possible overlapping of responsibilities that hinders effective water resources management (Madrazo, 2002).

2) Fragmented water sector where 32 government agencies are involved directly and indirectly.

3) Lack of clarity and understanding of water issues.

4) Conflicting laws (Philippine Water Code, Provincial Water Utilities Act, Local overnment Code, Indigenous Act, etc.)

5) Weak enforcement. NWRB has no “enforcement powers.”

6) Lack of appreciation of monitoring water (and soil) quality.

7) Insufficient appreciation and, therefore, budget allocation and investment for monitoring and research.

Technical Challenges

1) Water Supply – insufficient understanding of the quantity and spatial/temporal distribution of surface and groundwater resources.

• There needs to be studies on hygrography, stream flow, flood and drought risk, groundwater and aquifer characterization, global budget and climate change effects.

2) Protection of Water Supply – insufficient understanding of the water quality and the benefit of sustainable wastewater management.

• There is need to understand the baseline and trends of surface and groundwater pollution and vulnerability.

• There is need to adapt and develop remediation technology.

3) Water production, development and use – insufficient understanding of water use and allocation.

• Understand withdrawal rate and consumptive use; conveyance rate losses and the value of reclaiming wastewater.

Immediate Challenges

1) Dumpsites – Open dumping, no incineration (opposed by environmentalists), very little monitoring, no soil remediation

2) Gas stations and decommissioned pipelines – No monitoring unknown extent of contamination

3) Agricultural lands – Very little monitoring of soil and water

4) Industry – very little monitoring, reactive, not proactive

a) Mining – Disaster mitigation; siltation, heavy metals are addressed by organized mining (has Environment Rehab Fund)

b) Illegal Mining – Hg contamination; indiscriminate dumping of tails and reagents; siltation; effect to groundwater, seawater and flora and fauna

c) Factories, refineries, others – wastewater and solid waste disposal; unknown contamination in many sites.

Research and Development Research and Development are carried out by DOST and government agencies and universities either as independent projects or in collaboration with other universities or government agencies.

Examples:

Mapua University

• Determination of heavy metal concentration in leachate samples and its migration to groundwater sources at Payatas Dumpsite and vicinity, Quezon City.

• Impact assessment and potential hazards affecting Pasig-Potrero Watershed in the Pampanga River Basin, 25 years after the Mt. Pinatubo Eruption

De Lasalle University • Phyto-remediation of heavy metals using bamboo, sunflower, etc.

• PCE’s and PCB and PBDD in landfills and dumpsites

• Production of geopolymers for water treatment

Research and Development

Research and Development are carried out by universities either as independent projects or in collaboration with other universities or government agencies.

Examples:

University of the Philippines

• Assessment of spatial and temporal variation of groundwater using GIS

• Identification of potential artificial recharge sites to mitigate saltwater intrusion

• Mapping of pollution sources of groundwater

What can be done

1) Get our acts together

2) Intensify Research and Education

3) Collaborative efforts, National and International