Water governance toolbox launched for LGUs

MANILA, Philippines - Local government units (LGUs) may now be guided by proper standards in putting up proper waterworks systems for safe drinking water for their constituents, as nearly 16 million Filipinos still have no access to safe drinking water.

This, after the Philippine government, together with the World Bank, the United Nations through the Millennium Development Goal Achievement Fund (MDG-F) and other development partners, launched the other day the “Local Water Governance Toolbox” to guide water service providers in designing and managing waterworks systems to meet the people’s growing needs for safe drinking water and sanitation.

Otherwise known as “Tubig Yaman,” this new set of manuals and knowledge products on water and sanitation was unveiled at the Water Knowledge Fair at the Edsa Shangri-La Hotel in celebration of World Water Day.

The Water Knowledge Fair is part of an ongoing nationwide initiative to come up with a national water resources master plan.

In his keynote speech, Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo said the toolbox will help LGUs plan better and ensure that proper standards are met whenever they put up water systems for their communities.

In the past, Robredo said LGUs and water service providers relied on fragmented sets of guidelines, resulting in some operational difficulties and sustainability issues due to flaws in design assumptions, deficiencies in construction, and poor knowledge on operation and maintenance.

National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC) Secretary Joel Rocamora, who accepted the toolbox on behalf of the Philippine government as overall lead for the Sagana at Ligtas na Tubig sa Lahat (SALINTUBIG) program, underscored the importance of speeding up the country’s efforts in providing safe water and sanitation to all Filipinos.

“Having access to safe and clean water (and) proper wastewater treatment prevent the proliferation of water-borne diseases, giving our countrymen more time, freedom and opportunity to carve their pathway out of poverty,” Rocamora said.

While the Philippines is on track in attaining its commitment under the Millennium Development Goals, Rocamora said nearly 16 million Filipinos still have no access to safe drinking water.

SALINTUBIG – a tripartite program of the Department of Health, DILG and NAPC – aims to provide water systems for 455 waterless municipalities, barangays, health centers and resettlement sites; and enhance the capacity of LGUs and water service providers in planning, implementing and operating water supply facilities.

The Local Water Governance Toolbox was developed under the MDG-F program on “Enhancing Access to and Provision of Water Services with the Active Participation of the Poor” with funding from the Spanish government through the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and the United Nations Children’s Fund.

UNDP Country Director Renaud Meyer said the toolbox would provide the tools that can help make the water and sanitation sector operate in a manner that is pro-poor, accountable, and inclusive.

Part of the toolbox is the Rural Water Supply (RWS) manual developed to guide operators, managers, government planners and contractors in designing better waterworks systems in rural areas.

World Bank Country Director Motoo Konishi is hopeful that the RWS manual will help stakeholders in the water supply sector have a better understanding of the nature of the water supply business, their responsibilities, and the role of government agencies and regulatory bodies that seek to help them operate sustainably while protecting the consumers.

Last October, President Aquino issued Executive Order 62 mandating the Department of Public Works and Highways to lead an inter-agency committee to develop a water resources sector master plan that will effectively address issues and challenges in the water sector.