PH’s water crisis: Brian Poe Lamanzares urges creation of Water Management Department

BRIAN Poe Lamanzares, First Nominee of the FPJ Panday Bayanihan Partylist, believes a dedicated Water Management Department is essential to tackling the Philippines’ water crisis.

In his research presentation, “A Governance Framework for the Philippine Water Security and Resource Management,” delivered at the 6th Katipunan Conference on National Security and Economic Resilience, Lamanzares highlighted the need for a single agency to oversee and manage the nation’s water resources.

Currently, over 30 government agencies are responsible for various aspects of water management, leading to conflicting policies and regulations. This fragmentation, Lamanzares argues, hinders effective water governance and contributes to the growing water crisis.

Echoing the irony of the Philippines, an archipelago surrounded by water, facing a water shortage, Lamanzares emphasizes the urgency of the situation. He believes a dedicated Water Management Department would enhance coordination, efficiency, and effectiveness in addressing complex water management issues. It would also allow for the development and retention of water management expertise, crucial for ensuring a sustainable future.

Senator Grace Poe, Lamanzares’ mother, has proposed bills to create a Department of Water Resources, which are currently pending in Congress. She has also urged President Ferdinand Bongbong Marcos Jr. to issue an executive order establishing a Water Management Office.

The National Water Resource Board reports that 11 million Filipino families lack access to clean water, relying on deep wells, springs, lakes, and rainfall. This underscores the urgency of the situation, as water is essential for food security, urban development, and the overall well-being of the nation.

Lamanzares emphasizes the need for immediate action, calling for a roadmap for sustainability to achieve a greener, more stable, and self-reliant economy.