FVR leads Asians in batting for rational water policies

THE HAGUE, Netherlands -- Former President Fidel V. Ramos urged Asians to reallign water policies and boost conservation efforts by implementing "users' pay" rules and enforcing stringent penalties on polluters.

Speaking at the Asia Day here of the World Water Forum and Ministerial Conference, Ramos warned that water woes could worsen social unrest, as it is the poor who are hardest hit by water scarcity, pollution and floods, and water-borne diseases.

Although blessed by one of the world's highest renewable fresh water resources, Southeast Asia faces serious delivery woes that stem from inefficiency and poor environmental policies, said Ramos, who is among the advisers to the World Water Commission.

Leaders of the region, he stressed, have to address the danger of water becoming a scarce resource, given Southeast Asia's 500 million population that is expected to grow by 50 percent by 2025.

"The political visibility of water issues is bound to increase," Ramos said, adding that the water crisis is more "a crisis of governance."

"Traditional approaches to developing and managing water resources through masterplans have led to fragmented and uncoordinated development and management," he pointed out.

The former president batted for a balance between social dimensions, economic demands and environmental needs. This, he said, would involve strong political will on the part of leaders and their constituents.

Economic development, both in agriculture and industry, together with high population and urban growth, have dramatically increased the pressures on limited resources and available water services, Ramos noted.

Agriculture in the rice-producing region still commands the highest demand for water. But, he added, competition is already taking its toll as urban domestic and industrial use increases.

Southeast Asia will have to make tough choices, including between what is efficient and what is less burdensome to people, he stressed.

The ex-President called to an end to wasteful populist tendencies, saying the mistaken notion that water should be a free social good only hampers conservation.

"The common experience is most countries will confirm that even poor people are willing to pay for clean, potable water," said the former chief executive. He pushed for "users' pay" and "polluters' pay" policies. -- ASPAC News