STATE OF PHILIPPINE WATER RESOURCES
By:
Secretary Elisea G. Gozun
The presentation of Secretary Elisea G. Gozun was preceded with a video showing the Philippine Environment Monitor 2003 – Water Quality. The Philippine Environmental Monitor is a snap shot of the state of the environment which the World Bank prepares every year. For 2003, water quality was the focused.
The Secretary pointed out that as seen in the video nobody can survive without water. While man can survive without food for a couple of days but there’s no one who can survive without water. She added that in order for us to ensure the provision of adequate supply of clean water, it is critical that we protect the source of water that is nothing but our watershed.
The following were the emphasis of the discussion:
o Key findings of the study included that access to clean and adequate water remained acute problems in the Philippines with critical regions being affected in terms of supply like Metro Manila, Central Luzon, Southern Tagalog and Central Visayas.
o Water Supply - For CY 2001, assessment showed that the Philippines ranked second to last among countries where water is least available.
o Water Quality - Nearly 2.2 M metric tons of organic pollution generated every year were contributed by domestic (48%), industries (15%) and agriculture (37%) sources. For individual household, 80% of the water used end up as waste water. Considering that only 7% of the country’s total population is connected to sewer system and very few households have acceptable effluents from septic tanks, thus, we are contributing organic pollution.
o Impacts of Water Pollution – Included health (loss of income, less productivity) fisheries (loss productivity) and tourism (less no. of tourists as experienced in Boracay when coliform count exceed several thousands above standard).
o Major Problem – under – investment in sanitation and sewerage. The lack of public awareness about the problem will always lead to pollution of surface and groundwater.
o Main Challenges:
1. Need to raise awareness (use public disclosure) – “Start with our people”, the Secretary stressed. DENR Plan for CY 2004 will include disclosure of the quality of water of the major beaches in the Philippines like Puerto Galera, Mindoro, Boracay, Aklan, Malitan, Lapu-lapu, Talomo, Davao, and others.
2. Invest in waste water management. The Secretary’s experience with General Santos with the Southern Mindanao Integrated Coastal Resource Management Project, which a proposed “Centralized Water Treatment System” was opposed by the Sangguniang Bayan only showed that there is no awareness by leaders and the people.
3. Stimulate revenues and incentives.4. Provide effective legislation and regulations (PAs Clean Water Act)