ECCP To Support WRMO Creation For PH Water Security

The European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (ECCP) supports the creation of the Water Resources Management Office (WRMO) as the first step to achieving water security in the Philippines.

The ECCP supported the move of President Marcos to approve the proposal to establish the WRMO under the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) as a transitory body pending the creation of a Water Resource Department.

“In line with our long-standing advocacy of attaining water security in the Philippines, the chamber has long called for the creation of an apex body to lead the crafting and implementation of policies and initiatives for the Philippine water sector, as well as streamline institutions to further facilitate ease of doing business in the said sector,” the ECCP said.

The agency is expected to frame policies and perform functions in managing water resources to achieve water security in the country.

“The creation of the WRMO is a welcome first step in fully realizing this as it aims to strengthen the collaboration among various agencies in implementing water management programs by the Integrated Water Management Plan to be crafted by the said agency,” the ECCP said.

The ECCP emphasized the need to approach water resource planning using Integrated Water Resource Management (IWRM).

The IWRM is an internationally recognized framework used to guide countries to approach water security more holistically due to the interdependence of the uses of finite water resources.

The ECCP, together with its environment and water committee, pushes for regular stakeholder engagements to be institutionalized to facilitate coordination and exchange of insights in solving water-related issues.

“In this light, we highly encourage that a multi-stakeholder advisory panel be established under the WRMO with representation from the private sector, academe, and civil society to serve as an additional soundboard for the said office in the crafting and implementation of policies, programs, and projects for the water sector in line with IWRM’s principle of participatory governance,” the group said.

“The chamber will continue to monitor the developments on the creation of the WRMO, and we look forward to learning more information about the office to see how we can work together to achieve our shared advocacy,” the ECCP said.

The ECCP also urged the legislation of an overseeing body for the water sector which has long been overdue.

“We believe that having an executive water department tasked to harmonize and monitor all water-related efforts will provide strategic direction which would not only help in solving water scarcity in the country but would also aid in the establishment and operation of businesses as well as attract new investors,” the ECCP said.

“We hope that the current interest from the government will be sustained and bring the much-needed changes in the water sector into fruition,” the ECCP added.

Source: Philstar