Water districts want to get involved in crafting the DWR bill

CEBU, Philippines — The water sector has appealed to lawmakers to consult and involve water industry stakeholders like the water districts in the crafting of the provisions of the Department of Water Resources bill.

The appeal was made by lawyer Vicente Joyas, chairman of the Board of Directors of Quezon Metropolitan Water District and president of the Philippine Water Works Association (PWWA) during the 28th Philwater International Conference and Exhibition in Clark, Pampanga today.

His appeal was addressed to Rep. Arnolfo Teves Jr. of the 3rd District of Negros Oriental who attended the event as one of the speakers.

Joyas expressed his dismay that lawmakers only “rely on the proposals of oligarchs” in crafting bills that affect a sector of the society.

Teves assured that he will request to include and consult the water districts in the crafting of the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) once the bill creating the water resources department becomes a law.

Teves also asked the PWWA to send a letter to Congress and the Senate expressing their intention to be involved in the crafting of the IRR.

The lawmaker also assured to follow up the status of the bill and he strongly supports its immediate passage.

In the first State of the Nation Address (SONA) of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in July, he mentioned that the establishment of the Department of Water Resources is among the priorities of his administration.

He reiterated this in his recent meeting with top officials of Isabela province.

In 2019, 35 representatives filed separate bills seeking the creation of the water resources department. A consolidated bill authored by Albay Rep. Jose Maria Clemente “Joey” Salceda was filed and approved by the House committees on government reorganization and public works and highways in November 2019.

Salceda refiled the bill on June 30 this year. Senators Grace Poe, Miguel Zubiri and Jinggoy Estrada also recently refiled their respective Senate versions of the bill.

But Teves stressed that aside from creating a water resources department, it is also important to have different government agencies work together for a sustainable water supply.

“Even if we will have a Department of Water, if DENR will not do its job to protect the environment, we will not have water. There will be no watershed. Let us also ask the agencies to converge and work together,” Teves said.

Teves was among the 10 speakers during the first day of the two-day 28th Philwater International Conference & Exhibition with the theme, “Global Innovations and Solutions on Water and Sanitation”.

The Metropolitan Cebu Water District (MCWD) has sent four participants to the convention — Director Jodelyn May Seno, Office of the Board of Directors (BOD) Technical Assistant Nena Miole, Corporate Attorney Rose Manayon and Information Officer Minerva Gerodias. (FREEMAN)