Marcos orders refining of Department of Water bill
President Marcos on Wednesday directed various agencies to work together and address issues facing the Department of Water Resource (DWR) bill that has languished in the Senate for over a year.
In an Instagram post, the President said he gave the directive on Tuesday in a sectoral meeting with various agencies involved in the proposed creation of the DWR.
“I’ve instructed government agencies to refine the bill to create a clear and effective framework that cuts inefficiencies, strengthens regulation and ensures clean, reliable water for every Filipino,” he said.
House Bill (HB) No. 9663, which seeks to create the DWR and Water Regulatory Commission, was passed by the House of Representatives on Dec. 12, 2023, after the President included it in his priority measures in his second State of the Nation Address.
The bill, also called the proposed National Water Resources Act, was immediately transmitted to the Senate but has seen little action for over a year. There has not been any announcement of a Senate counterpart bill to HB 9663.
Last September, President Marcos reiterated the need for DWR during the sixth Legislative Executive Development Advisory Council meeting.
He emphasized the need for a cohesive and centralized approach to water security, highlighting the importance of establishing the DWR to manage all water-related concerns, including irrigation, sewage and sanitation.
Mr. Marcos discussed plans to submit an executive version of the DWR bill to facilitate legislative deliberations and emphasized the need for a comprehensive plan involving all relevant agencies to effectively address water-related challenges exacerbated by climate change.
The proposed DWR will bring together various agencies under a single water management system to address issues, such as irrigation, flood control and power production.
