MANILA -- A draft executive order that will address the country’s water issues is being finalized and will be submitted to President Rodrigo Duterte for his input and approval.
This was bared by Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles, who on Sunday said that the issuance was discussed at length in the latest Cabinet Assistance System (CAS) meeting in Leyte last Friday.
“I believe the different agencies agree on the problems that need to be resolved to prevent the sort of water supply management issues now being experienced in Metro Manila,” the Palace official said.
“At this point we have built a consensus on how we can address these issues, but the recommendations as outlined in the EO will still be subject to the approval of the President,” Nograles added.
The provisions of the draft EO, Nograles said, cover the different components of integrated water resource management (IWRM).
Among the provisions of the proposed EO are the reconstitution of the National Water Resources Board (NWRB) into a body that will be responsible for policy, direction-setting, and the integration of all government efforts pertaining to water.
The body, the Cabinet Secretary said, may be placed under the supervision of the Office of the President (OP).
The NWRB is currently under the supervision of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources by virtue of EO 123 s. 2002.
According to Nograles, “given the scope and breadth of water-related concerns, the supervision of OP could help ensure that all 30-plus agencies involved in water resource management are on the same page.”
One of the responsibilities of the body would be the crafting of a national water management master plan that will integrate all relevant and existing plans and roadmaps of the different agencies that play a role in IWRM.
The former member of Congress said that he was encouraged by the commitment of the CAS representatives of the different agencies who were “focused on finding solutions to the problem instead of dwelling on its roots.”
“Alam nila na para matugunan ang problema ng ating mga kababayan, mas mainam na magtulungan imbes na magturuan (They know that to address the problems of our countrymen, it is better to help each other rather than point fingers). I believe that this is the approach to take with any challenge facing our country,” he said. (PR)
