Salceda pushes for creation of water department, says it can solve govt inefficiencies

In pushing for the creation of the Department of Water Resources (DWR), a leader of the House of Representatives on Tuesday urged the Department of Budget and Management to be less judgmental against creating new agencies.

During a forum on the Philippine Water Sector Reform Agenda, House Committee on Ways and Means Chairman Joey Sarte Salceda of Albay said House Bill 4944, which would create the DWR, would lead to better water resource management and help deliver better access to clean water.

According to Salceda, the only major hurdle to the bill is the government’s “unspoken moratorium” against opening new agencies that require new funding.

“Some new agencies solve inefficiencies in government, and deliver more benefits than their costs. This agency is one example,” Salceda, one of the authors of the HB 4944, said.

“Clean water for all is an inalienable right. We have to strengthen public and private investment in the water sector to get people better access to water,” Salceda added, citing that close to 10% of Filipinos – or 11 million – still have no access to adequate water or sanitation.

Moreover, Salceda said the bill was supported by water sector stakeholders in the push for a new cabinet-level agency for water resource management that would resolve the disjointed regulation of the sector, joined by leading industry players, economists, and civil society groups.

“All water belongs to the state, which shall develop it for the common good and the future generations. Those who use water now are borrowing it from their children. This is the guiding principle of the bill,” Salceda said.

The bill creates an umbrella department for the water sector responsible for water resources planning, policy formulation, and management of the ownership, appropriation, utilization, exploitation, development, sustainability and protection of water resources in the Philippines, except fisheries or aquaculture. The bill will help solve disjointed regulation in the water sector with over 30 agencies regulating, managing and governing the water sector.

“You can’t afford to get it wrong once in water management. With 30 agencies of various capabilities regulating water resources, we will get it wrong at least once. With one empowered agency, we can take care of our water resources in a harmonized, holistic manner,” Salceda added.

When asked whether the bill has a strong chance in the House, Salceda said that the bill will likely be approved.

“No one is pushing against it. If we can get enough time in the legislative calendar, it will pass,” Salceda said.

Salceda also noted that there are Senators who are supportive or interested in supporting the bill.