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TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2018 advertise@manilastandard.net
LWUA Spearheads
Water Department By Peter Paul Duran
T
HE Philippines is a country abundant with water. It is surrounded by oceans and seas with a multitude of bodies of water in between the more than seven thousand islands, along the rivers that flow from the vast mountain ranges, and the sources of water from down under we have yet to tap.
Truly, the country is blessed with nature’s prime resource. The question now is, why haven’t we made the great leap forward in this aspect? For Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA) administrator Jeci Lapus, the water system in the Philippines is fragmented. The solution? A lone governing body to address all water-related issues. In a talk with Manila Standard, the former congressman shared his plans and updates on putting up a Department of Water which has now gained traction in the lower house, while giving insights on how the Philippines, a country rich with the blessing of water, can still provide sources of safe, sufficient, and affordable drinking water to a growing population amid an infrastructure-intensive thrust from the government. Can you talk us through your proposal to put up a department of water and the main reason for this initiative? Admin Jeci Lapus: Well, we have now a pending bill in congress filed by the speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and this is for the creation of a department of water, irrigation, sanitation, sewage and resources. So this will unify all the agencies. The department of water will surely make it possible na meron tayong containment of rain water. We are the only country I think that does not have a department of water because after air, what is the next important thing?Water. What is the status of the endorsed bill (Department of Water)? It has been referred to the committee already and at the budget hearing maybe we can tackle it right after. And with the speaker being the sponsor. Well, I would surmise that the congressmen will be cooperative. Is this bill being backed up by the President? Wala po tayong (backing up mula) sa Malacañang, but again this is a basic necessity of every household. So there is really a need for this bill to push through. You just imagine that LWUA is only catering to 22 Million. We are only catering to 22 million Filipinos, which mean 22% of the population. So our plan is to double the connectivities in the next five years. Of course, we need the support of the national government, the congress and the senate. What about the challenges? What are the challenges or hurdles in providing safe water for everyone? The challenges, number one is the source of water. We are now dependent on rivers and the deep well[s], but my thinking is what is under your feet is yours. We should yet tap what is under. We should tap the surface water but because of the climate change, the rivers are now polluted. So, we can still cope-up with all the challenges but again, what is important is the funding. What are the other pressing issues on this matter? Turn to C2
PRIME RESOURCE. The Philippines is abundant with bodies of water as well as fresh water resources. LWUA administrator Jeci Lapus (pictured below) bats for a Department of Water to facilitate all water-related services in the country. LWUA, (with their mascot “Tap” on the left) celebrates its 45th anniversary today, Sept. 18, 2018.
Jesi Lapus Photo by Peter Paul Duran
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HISTORY By virtue of Presidential Decree 198 or “The Provincial Water Utilities Act of 1973” by the late President Ferdinand Marcos, the Local Water Utilities Administration was created on May 25, 1973. More commonly referred to as LWUA, it is a government-owned and controlled corporation with a specialized lending function mandated to promote and oversee the development of water supply in cities and municipalities outside Metro Manila. As the law stipulates, this is to be accomplished by the creation of and partnerships with Water Districts scattered nationwide. LWUA began its early operation by temporarily holding office at the Infrastructure Operations Center at Camp Aguinaldo. After five months, it was transferred to the fifth floor of the now-demolished Philcomcen Building along Ortigas Avenue. As the staff grew bigger, LWUA moved its headquarters to the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) along Edsa, along with other satellite offices in nearby Greenhills and San Juan. It was not until seven years later, or in 1980, that LWUA was given a permanent home at the MWSS Compound in Old Balara, Quezon City. The LWUA logo symbolizes a drop of water partitioned by three colors of the Philippine flag: blue, red and white. This corresponds to the three main islands of the archipelago since the agency services the whole country. SANTIAGO WATER DISTRICT INAUGURATION. LWUA Administrator Jeci Lapus leads the opening of the pipeline during Santiago Water District’s inauguration.
current water-related issues agencies face? It is, will be near impossible to unify everyone because we are forty, there is really an urgent need. The DA has a small water impounding, the DENR is river basin, there’s LLDA and there is the Pasig River, there is the flood control which is very important because it catches all the rains that we have. Now we contain it. And just to compare ourselves with Singapore, Singapore is exporting 30% of water from Malaysia, 40% is coming from desalination, and 30% is recycled. So we are composed of 7,600 islands, there’s much water around us. So all we have to do is try to make the best use that we can do for the water and how to conserve, preserve, contain. What are the roles of the private sector in this proposed plan of actions? The private sector can practically say that we have the rainwater catchment. They can use the rainwater for the water closet they really use. But again, at least rain is better than the river.They can use for washing, for their bathrooms and everything. So it will minimize now the use of filtered water, purified water, this is, treated water. So it is lesser on the cost. Now, of course, what the public can do is try not to contaminate the rivers they consider it their esteros. Let us not contaminate. For private establishments naman, well, ang gagawin lang diyan just like in Boracay area, they should have their own septage treatment. So ‘yung wastewater that is derived from the septage should be treated para maging good water when it goes down to the aquifer. Or they recycle their, like the casinos and hotels, they can recycle their septage treatment now, raise water and do it for their water cooler and for the flushing of the toilets. Actually, the people, you don’t have to tell them to use it because they can save a lot. They will be saving millions of pesos of flushing and water cooler and everything. What other plans do you have in mind to improve utility services in the Philippines not only water services but as a whole? The Department of Water will be the solution to all our problems regarding water. Right now, if I say irrigation, then we have to talk about irrigation and the power component of irrigation Industrial Pump Trading & Services with the DOE and then we have to talk to the # 187 Brgy. Dampol, Plaridel, Bulacan farmers for their canal. We have to talk to so many if we don’t have a department. Well, if you have a department on head of the agenWater Well Drilling, cy, there’s only one you have to talk to, at least Submersible Pump and one head to roll, ‘di ba? Everybody, please help us in the preservaElectromechanical Services tion of our environment especially our rivers. Of course, the aquifer under us will not last long, evTel. No.: 09176815361 Mobile No.: +63917 6232 574 / +63919 3226 024 erybody’s going down. For the better future of Fax No.: (044) 791 4606 Email Address: chris_ngcindustrial@yahoo.com the children, we should have clean water other than clean air.
Ang pressing issues diyan ay number one, ‘yung quality ng water, number two the source of water. You know, we have about 520 water districts and 60% of them are below 3,000 connections and they need more funds to expand. In this connection, if the Department of Water will be put up, will the particular issue on funding be eliminated? We do funding (to the local water districts, yes), but again our money is coming from the national government. Or we borrow right now I have a loan with ADB which amounts to P3 billion, but that is just tip of the iceberg because we need 30 billion a year for the next five years to double the connectivities. It will not be totally resolved because no agency has enough money but at least we will have a big elbowroom to work. Water amid the Build, Build, Build BUILD, BUILD, BUILD, it can be construed as a total concept. When you say BUILD, BUILD, BUILD siguro for the government, it’s building the road, build the bridge but then again all the other amenities should be there. Especially water and light utilities. Only thing is that we are separate that’s why we cannot precisely unify our activities. They are more focused on the infrastructure. Medyo nakakalimutan kami. Also, we have other agencies that cater to water distribution, which is the DILG. DILG has what you call the ‘Salin-Tubig’ which caters also to the distribution of water. And it’s the local government who institutes and manages. So sometimes there are two authentic water districts, water utilities in a town or in the province. One managed by the LGU and one managed by the water district. So, I had a meeting with Secretary Eduardo Año, he believes, too, that the LGUs should not manage the water utility and soon we will enter an agreement that all water utilities serving level 3 to the household shall be turned over to the water district. Under your proposed plan, one department will be able to control and manage water, irrigation, sewerage and sanitation for that matter. What main and abrupt solutions do
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TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2018 advertise@manilastandard.net LWUA-WD FORUM & AWARDS 2018
WATER DISTRICT AWARDEES OUTSTANDING REGIONAL TRAINING CENTER 1 Baguio PIONEERS IN SEPTAGE (Water Treatment Plants) 1 Baliwag 2 Dumaguete City 3 Isabela City DOH-ACCREDITED LABORATORIES
MESSAGE Greetings! Our common interest in accelerating the provision and promotion of access to clean, safe, and reliable water supply to every household and establishment in the country is what holds us together. Over the years, much has been done to achieve this common interest … but a lot more remains to be accomplished. With a steadily growing population and the challenges posed by climate change, pollution, urbanization, and waste management, stakeholders must be able to cope and pool resources to meet the demands head-on. As the Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA) celebrates its 45th founding anniversary, we are reminded of our mandate. LWUA shall never cease to promote, develop and finance local water utilities or water districts which are outside the forefront of water and sanitation development in the countryside since its creation in 1973. Celebrating a significant milestone is indeed an opportunity to be reminded of our Mission. Let us pursue the National Government’s goal of universal access to safe water and sanitation including septage and sewerage in the countryside. We will create more developments in the water districts and other local water utilitiesthat they become well-improved institutions through financial, technical and institutional assistance and regulation. We will strengthen our partnership with other government agencies and institutions. LWUA shall become a more viable, effective and world-class agency. We speed up our efforts towards water sustainability and efficiency in implementing and overseeing the development of water and sanitation infrastructure in the country today and the succeeding years to come. We will gear our endeavors with expanded coverage and reliable water service at affordable rates, adequate sanitation, reliable and economically viable WDs, institutionalized good governance in WDs, financial viability and sustainability of LWUA operations, competent delivery of financial, technical and institutional development assistance; and a competent and efficient workforce of dedicated civil servants. Today, we sail on towards adequate and sustainable safe water and sanitation services in the Philippines. Happy 45th anniversary!
Rogelio B. Luy Chairman, Board of Trustees, LWUA
MESSAGE I feel both honored and humbled to be a part of this milestone in the Local Water Utilities Administration’s long history of public service. From providing safe water to a few thousand Filipinos almost half a century ago, LWUA now caters to over twenty million of our countrymen in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. The journey has been long and fruitful – but the road that lies ahead stretches even longer and poses far more challenges. The need for reliable, clean water grows everyday – given our ever growing population and its corollary environmental degradation, pollution, and deforestation. That is why we have to keep up – and even stay ahead of the game. We must continuously improve, upgrade our technical know-how in coming up with water of the highest quality. We must constantly streamline our system and processes in order to deliver on our mandate in the most efficient way possible. By taking stock in what we have accomplished, let us look to the future with optimism – being guided by our core values of transparency, accountability, and performance. With this in mind – and with the help of the Almighty – we can do no less than live up to the expectations of millions of households that still await our crucial services. I extend my sincerest congratulations to the men and women of LWUA -- and my utmost appreciation to all those who have been our partners, both in the public and private sector. Particularly to the more than five hundred water districts who are our steadfast allies in giving access to potable water to communities all over the country. They are truly deserving of the recognition we are giving them this year with our Most Outstanding Water Districts Awards as we celebrate our landmark anniversary. We would not be where we are -- and accomplish what we have -- if it hadn’t been for your unflagging trust and support all these years. May we continue our journey to provide safe, potable and affordable water supply to as many Filipinos in the years to come. JECI A. LAPUS Acting Administrator
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Metropolitan Tuguegarao Cauayan City Santiago Dagupan Baguio Calamba Angeles City Dasmariñas Metro Lipa Batangas City Bacolod City
12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22
Metropolitan Naga Quezon Metro Metropolitan Cebu Dumaguete City Leyte Metro Butuan City San Francisco Surigao Metro Davao City General Santos City Tagum
23 Metro Kidapawan BIG BROTHER LUZON 1 Metropolitan Tuguegarao 2 Cauayan 3 Metro Bangued 4 Binmaley 5 Dagupan City 6 Mabalacat City 7 Baliwag
8 Balanga 9 Angeles City 10 Sta. Rosa 11 Peñaranda 12 Norzagaray 13 Metro Lipa 14 General Mariano Alvarez 15 Morong (Rizal) 16 Calamba 17 San Pablo City 18 Metro Vigan Turn to D4
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5 Legazpi City 6 Metro Roxas 7 Silay City 8 La Carlota City 9 Metropolitan Cebu
10 Borongan 11 Catbalogan 12 Calbayog City 13 Carcar 14 Bayawan
3 Manolo Fortich 4 Tandag City 5 Valencia City 6 Surigao Metro 7 Gingoog City
MINDANAO 1 Butuan City 2 San Francisco (Agusan del Sur)
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Riera Mallari Editor Peter Paul Duran Writer Advertising Support Group Sheila Suarez Joan Velasco Eric Jutic Edelyn Elamparo Romel J. Mendez Design
Acknowledgement Jeci A. Lapus LWUA Acting Administrator LWUA Public Affairs Department LWUA Water District Development Department LWUA-WD Forum & Awards Committee 2018
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