'Tubig!'

MANILA, Philippines - The water situation in the Philippines is an important matter whether we get too much rainfall or not. Too much rain and we worry about floods; too little, and we are concerned with drought. The situation is further aggravated by global warming, stronger storms, and erratic weather conditions. The only certainty is that we can no longer expect the usual seasonal cycles to prevail. Torrential downpours can occur during the traditional dry season, and drought during planting seasons will be the farmers’ bane.

“It will be a cycle of drought and deluge,” confirms Ma. Antonia Yulo Loyzaga, executive director of the Manila Observatory. “There has been an increase in mean temperatures in nearly all stations outside urban areas. This means more hot days and warm nights.” And although the overall trend is to lose rainfall throughout the country, “there will be an increase in the proportion of total annual rainfall contributed by heavy rain.” Will flooding happen again? Yulo’s reply is unequivocal. “Yes it will.”

Thus, it is timely that the Philippine Institute of Environmental Planners (PIEP) has focused on the issue “Tubig: Sobra O Wala…Paano Na? Addressing the Water Crisis in the Philippines.” Topics at the most recent PIEP national convention included water security and management, land and groundwater use, drought preparedness, environmental planning and decision making.

“As planners, we should be aware of available water resources,” says Susan P. Abano, engineer for Water Assessment Section of the National Water Resources Board. “Water resources should be conserved and protected by regulating their utilization, and allocation based on policies consistent with beneficial use and sustainable development.”

Nick Tabungar, Gloria Teodoro, Lloyd Sioson, Liza-Marie Elum, Senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr., Miguel Puzon, Emma Ulep, Leah dela Rosa, Mayu Munarriz, Emily Mateo and Elias Fernandez Jr. at the recent PIEP national convention

“Water is a vital resource under threat and there is a need to protect and conserve our water sources,” she continues. Although extraction of groundwater is regulated, there is the problem of illegal users. The problem is compounded by pollution and inefficient use of treated water. Abano points out, “We use treated drinking water for flushing our toilets.”

“We will never know the worth of water until the well is dry,” says environmental specialist Ruby Socorro Arico of the Asian Development Bank. She proposes “setting up a Department of Water Resources Management” and drafting a water planning development program. “We have enough policies but implementation can be ineffective or slow.” What can be done? Arico suggests encouraging more research on water management and providing incentives to graduate students and researchers; providing strong incentives to new projects that incorporate water recycling, re-use and collection; improving data collection, knowledge management and sharing; and evaluating impacts of water policies on sectors like food production. “We all know that agricultural run-off wastes water,” she says. Much can be achieved by promoting a mindset where all are conscious about water conservation.

But how do we remedy too much rain? “To the natural scientists, applied scientists and engineers, a properly managed dam will reduce down stream flooding and subsequent damage to property,” says former OIC director of the Environment Management Bureau and OIC assistant secretary of the DENR Ely Anthony R. Ouano. “Aside from flood control, the dam will also augment the low water flow or provide water during droughts or years of low rainfall.” Of course, flooding can also be minimized by good watershed management, dredging of waterways, and pollution control. Undoubtedly, the massive flooding from Typhoon Ondoy was aggravated by blocked waterways

“The very sad reality is that our city is a city of open sewers,” says ABS-CBN Foundation managing director Gina Lopez in her talk on “Addressing Land Use-Based Water Pollution: The Buhayin ang Pasig Project.

 “The biggest defect is a defect in consciousness,” she adds. Lopez has taken the daunting role of heading the Pasig river clean-up. “We ask people, ‘Bakit di kayo tumutulong?’ and they say, ‘Kasi may gagawin pa ako.’ People have to realize their affinity with the river. (It) is connected to our history and identity. We are taga-ilog; we are a people of the water and the river is our center. But our physical environment goes against what we are.” By spearheading the clean-up of Estero de Paco, a waterway that was once heavily clogged by garbage, however, she has proven that it can be done.

“Water has been both a savior and curse in national development,” says Senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr., chairperson of Urban Planning, Housing and Resettlement. He relates that during his term as governor of Ilocos Norte, farmers who could no longer rely on traditional weather patterns turned to local government to ask whether they should commence planting. Recognizing the value of environmental planning and the expertise of the PIEP, he invited members to present proposals to his committee as basis for future legislation.