Intergrated Water Resources Management

The Philippine Water Partnership advocates Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM), a process which promotes the co-ordinated development and management of water, land, and related resources, in order to maximize the resultant economic and social welfare in an equitable manner without compromising the sustainability of vital ecosystems. The PWP aims to influence policy and practice towards the IWRM to ensure sustainable and equitable water for all

In January 2006, the UNEP-assisted IWRM 2005 SEA Project commenced implementation in the Philippines. The project intended to accelerate IWRM implementation in the Philippines through the development of a National IWRM and Water Efficiency Improvement Plan.

The IWRM Plan Framework is a directional plan. It is intended to guide the different stakeholders involved in water resources management, at different levels, to either prepare their respective IWRM plans, update/enhance their existing IWRM related plans or make IWRM an integral part of their development plans/programs

It provides a clear roadmap and a collaborative platform for all stakeholders and water-related agencies to effectively work together to achieve water for all in a sustainable, equitable and ecologically balanced manner.

This directional plan framework also seeks to enable and encourage a wider adoption and localization of IWRM, across different stakeholders, at different levels. It will guide water-related government agencies and other stakeholders in ensuring that water and IWRM are mainstreamed and integrated in their respective plans, programs, and projects. It will likewise be the take-off in the preparation of regional and local IWRM Operational and Action Plans.

National

• Formation of the Multi-sectoral Task Force and NWRB Board as Steering Committee on IWRM Plan Framework Formulation and Implementation
• NWRB Board Resolution approving and endorsing the plan
• Partners Forum - key stakeholders signed pledge of support for the operationalization and implementation of IWRM Plan Framework
• Dissemination of IEC materials on IWRM and the Plan Framework
• Integrated Water Quality Management Framework - A framework as provided in the Clean Water Act
• Creation of a Presidential Task Force on Climate Change with DENR as lead agency
• Conduct of the Study on the National Flood Risk Assessment- DPWH as lead agency
• Preparation of the Water Supply Roadmap- to come up with an action plan to guide the development of the sector as well as eliminating duplication of efforts and rationalizing donor activities
• Development of Knowledge Management Portal for Water Supply and Sanitation - Portal will be hosted at NWRB. This is an internet based platform to facilitate the exchange and access updated and reliable information on water supply and sanitation

Local

• Laguna Lake Development Authority (LLDA) assumption of functions on the issuance of water permit in the Laguna Lake Region
• Bohol Island:

  • Creation of Bohol IWRM Board through a Provincial Executive Order
  • Proposed EO creating the Loboc Watershed and Management Council - which expanded the existing structure to cover the whole river basin (upstream down to the coastal area)
  • Water Supply Master Plan Study for Bohol Island - to identify potential water supply sources

• Negros Island:

  • Study of Raw Water Pricing which was piloted in Manjuyod and Valencia Negros Oriental - Objective is to test the raw water pricing methodology. Lessons learned is the difficulty in the implementation in the LGU level but rather on a river basin context.
  • Establishment of an IWRM Office in the Negros Oriental Province
  • Creation of a Water Resources Management Council in Tabla River located in Negros Occidental spearheaded by NWRB.
  • Proposed MOA for the creation of Negros Island IWRM Council- in order to manage the water resources in the whole Negros Island.

• Institutional Collaboration/ MOAs entered by NWRB to assist in the monitoring of water users - With the limited staff complement and financial resources of NWRB certain collaborative efforts were agreed between different institutions

  • MOA with LLDA
  • MOA with Quezon City, Metro Manila
  • MOA with San Juan City, Metro Manila

Challenges in IWRM Operationalization and implementation:

• An enabling policy is needed to have a government mandate that will translate the IWRM plan framework into a collaborative initiative of all water-related agencies, and supported by other government agencies.
• Establish an efficient and effective monitoring and evaluation system
• Continuous capacity building at the national, regional and local levels
• Sharing of lessons learned and technology options
• Awareness campaign and information dissemination as a continuous process
• Continuous technical and financial support to sustain implementation
• Mainstreaming IWRM in all water related activities in regional and local plans
• To conduct water resources assessment studies in water constrained areas to come up with decision support tools.