- Uneven water distribution. Authorities have decided to develop a new water roadmap because although the country has abundant resources, the government is still unable to adequately distribute water when and where it is needed. As of 2005, twenty percent of people still lack access to water. This means that around 20 million people nationwide still suffer from uneven water distribution.
- Sources unfit for use. Most water sources are not suitable to use. In fact, around 20 percent of rivers are unfit for human activities.
- Aggravating factors. Conditions that aggravate the water problem include pollution, climate change, insufficient water infrastructure investment, and environmental degradation.
- Important water resources. The Philippines has 421 principal rivers, 18 of which are within the country’s major river basins. Water resources in river basins are vital for domestic, agricultural, and industrial purposes. River basins are also composed of ecologically and economically important watersheds that drain water through rivers and other tributaries there.
- The RBCO forum. The River Basin Control Office (RBCO) and its non-government organization partner, Sagip Ilog Pasig Movement, organized a forum to provide an opportunity to discuss the integrated approach to managing river systems and challenges faced in providing water. Outputs from this forum will be among the biggest driving points of the water roadmap that will be submitted to Malacañang.
- Importance of coordination. The RBCO is promoting the integrated approach in line with the government’s ridge-to-reef development strategy. This strategy helps achieve coordination on environmental protection and development efforts to ensure they don't conflict with one another.
Source:
Teves, Catherine, “Authorities plan Philippine water roadmap.” Manila Bulletin, 15 March 2011, from http://www.mb.com.ph/node/309505/authoritie.
0 comments:
Post a Comment