BY GEROME DALIPE IV
ILOILO City – Despite the billions of pesos the national government poured in for various flood control projects in Western Visayas, the region remains vulnerable to water-related hazards due to climate change, according to the Regional Development Council (RDC-6).
“The changes in weather patterns also pose a threat to water resources and infrastructures, thus complicating the planning and management of the water sector,” the council reported in its Regional Development Plan for 2023 – 2028.
Massive flooding caused tremendous damage to infrastructures, properties, and even lives in the region in the past years.
The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) implemented 292 flood control projects in the region from 2019 to 2022 amounting to P12.94 billion.
But the council said parts of the region still experience devastating floods during heavy rains.
“There are periods of intense rain and periods of drought. Moderate rains distributed fairly throughout the year can better replenish groundwater supply than a few episodes of intense rain,” the council noted.
The council stressed that climate change intensifies the effect of drought and increases the frequency of its occurrence, which affects water resources and agricultural productivity.
“Moreover, erratic weather conditions can cause physical damage to infrastructures and can disrupt the water cycle,” the council pointed out.
Likewise, the council labeled “weak and fragmented” the current institutional setup or management system in the water sector.
“Currently, there is no apex body that oversees, consolidates, integrates, and coordinates the water-related functions of different stakeholders in Western Visayas,” the council stressed.
It cited the recurring problem of abandoned and damaged water pipelines after road maintenance or road widening requires the DPWH-6 and the water district to resolve.
“The fragmented institution also makes it difficult to effectively manage the water resources and water supply,” the council said.
Various government agencies have separate planning and management efforts like watershed and ecosystem rehabilitation for replenishment of groundwater and other water resources, the council added.
“Management of different water bodies is also mostly based on political jurisdiction, in the absence of a water development plan for the whole region,” the council said.
To address such concerns, the council is proposing the development of water security, ecological integrity of water systems, and resiliency to prevent water hazards.
These include upgrading and expanding water infrastructure and services and strengthening the implementation of integrated water resources management and services.
Among the planned strategies in the water sector is the implementation of Integrated Water Resource Management (IWRM) in the planning and management of land, water, and coastal resources.
“Western Visayas will pursue strategies to achieve the targets for the short-and-medium-terms,” the council said.
These include guaranteeing reliable and continuous water supply through efficient management and construction of water infrastructures.
There should also be an effective management of the allocation and utilization of water particularly over competing water uses, and to guarantee the standard quality of surface and ground water.
The council also expressed its support for the implementation of the Philippine Water Supply and Sanitation Master Plan (PWSSMP), the National Water Security Road Map (NWSRP), and the National Irrigation Master Plan (NIMP).
“The master plans will be revised and modified based on the conditions and prioritization of the region. Regional data are needed to tailor-suit the planning of development of the water sector in the region,” the council added.
Likewise, Western Visayas will come up with a regional master plan for the water sector tailored from the national master plans based on regional information.
Flood drainage systems in the irrigation service areas will be incorporated into the design irrigation system.
The council also said that public-private partnership (PPP) programs will be promoted to enhance and strengthen investments in the development and management of water infrastructure and services/PN
