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: 100 Million
(As of October, 2014 estimated)
• TOTAL LAND AREA: 300,000 km²
• TOTAL NUMBER OF ISLANDS: 7,107
• CLIMATE: Tropical Humid
• ANNUAL AVE. RAINFALL: 2,400 mm
• ESTIMATED ANNUAL SURFACE
AND GROUNDWATER WATER
AVAILABILITY: 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 and
healthy environment
Core Functions:
• Formulate and implement policies, guidelines, rules and regulations relating to
environmental 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 Management
in the Philippines
• Pollution of water bodies from point sources
and non‐point sources
• Governance issue
Weak law enforcement
Institutional fragmentation (Overlapping functions of
various government agencies mandated on water
management )
Republic of the Philippines
Department of Environment and Natural Resources
Pollution of water resources‐surface water (rivers, lakes, inland
water) 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 on
water environment)
Precautionary • Evidence of damage
• Needs immediate action
Principle
Polluters Pay • Payment for the wastewater discharge
principle • Strict monitoring
Users Pay • Payment for using water resources
Principle • 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 on
water environment)
Subsidiarity • Role of Stakeholders in decision making and
planning
Principle • Water Quality Management Board
The guiding principles are founded on good
environmental 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 DILG
Water uses Watershed Water quality
Management Management Monitoring
MWSS
LWUA LGUs
NEDA – National Economic and Development Authority DENR-Department of Environment and Natural Resources
DPWH –Department of Public Works and Highways PNOC- Philippine National
NWRB- National Water Resources Board NPC- National Power Corporation
NIA- National Irrigation Authority DOH-Department of Health
LWUA-Local Water Utilities Administration DILG- Department of Interior and Local Government
LGUs-Local Government Units 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 Decree
1067
• 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
Clean
Water
Act
Environmental (2004)
Code (1997)
Environmental Impact
Statement (1978)
Water code of
the Philippines
(1976)
Sanitation
Code (1975)
Evolution of Water Quality Policies
and Legislation in the Philippines
Next Action:
Way Forward (2015‐2016)
Policy review and
amendment of
Water Code of the
Environmental Clean Water
Water Code of Code (1997) Philippines(1976)
the Philippines Act (2004)
(1976)
Policy review of
Environmental Impact
the Philippine
System (1978) clean Water Act
of 2004
Sanitation code
(1975)
Classification of Inland Water Bodies
Classification Best Usage
Class 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 PNSDW
Class 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.
Committee on
NEDA Board infrastructures/Sub‐Committee
Policy Agenda/Plans on Water Resources/Sub‐
Identification/ Committee on Water Supply and
Priorities DENR, DPWH, DOH, Sanitation
D DOE, & DA, DBM,
DOST, etc Policy Research/Studies
Senate/Congress (Senate/House Bills)
Drafting of Policy Executive Order (EO), MC etc./Office of Policy
Proposals/Bills/Exec the President Research/Studies
utive Order/DAO
DAO‐ National Government Agency
Consultation with
Stakeholders/ Public Senate/Congress and Concerned
Hearings Government Agencies Legend:
OP‐ Office of the President
DENR‐ Department of Environment and Natural
Submission/Deliberatio
Senate/Congress and Concerned Resources
n of Final Draft Policy is
Government Agencies DPWH‐Department of Public Works and
Congress/Senate as
House/Senate Bills Highways
DOE‐ Department of Energy
Review/approval of DA‐ Department of Agriculture
House/Senate Bills into NEDA‐ National Economic and Development
a Law Authority
(if disapproved/vetoes IRR‐ Implementing Rules and Regulations
by OP)
y ) DAO‐ Department Administrative Order
Preparation of IRR
Policy Review
Policy
Implementation Post‐Implementation Policy Research/ and approval
Assessment/Evaluation Studies
(with Funding Flow‐Process
Release from DBM
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 and
other 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 a
and deployment of cost‐effective domestic wastewater treatment
facilities especially in urban areas, with defined appropriate
incentive system.
Efficient mechanism to monitor the operation of
industrial 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 and
estimate 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 in
inland 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 Governance
and 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 the
policy 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 a
mechanism 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 and
prevention 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 and
governance
• 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 awareness
on 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 and
monitoring.
• Development and operation of suitable pollution loading estimation
models in rivers and lakes as decision tool
• Design and assessment of capacity development plans and programs
and 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 Resources
Expected Role of Experts and Researchers in Policy Making Process
• Serves as partner by the government policy makers in the promotion of
responsive 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
