Water is Life. Providing universal and equitable access to safe water is a top priority for President Marcos’ administration and integrated water resources management is at the very core of the Philippine Development Plan. This whole-of-government approach to water security is now institutionalized under the Water Resources Management Office established in April 2023, which coordinates the work of all government water agencies. Over 12 months, we have geospatially mapped all surface water in the country, unlocked underutilized water resources and facilities across different departments from single purpose infrastructure to multipurpose use, and informed strategic conservation and investment decisions. We also embraced innovative partnerships with the private sector and development organizations.

New dams being built this year are now all multipurpose and all government water expenditures are rationalized. This includes the integration of our annual 6-billion-dollar budget for flood control infrastructure with water impoundment projects for domestic and irrigation use , while also exploring the potential for hydropower generation. Our small islands and other geographically isolated communities are now prioritized for targeted interventions.

Climate change has disrupted the world’s hydrological cycle. The longer dry season we experience and the current drought conditions brought on by El Niño appear to be the worst in the last five years. We are now bracing for the coming La Nina.

Achieving water security in the Philippines is more challenging than ever. However, nexus governance is in place to achieve a strategic balance between supply and consumption of water for health and food, energy and environmental security.

We are adopting an all-hazards approach to de-risking investments and pursuing green and blue nature-based solutions to ensure that no community and ecosystem will be left behind.

But we must all learn from and support each other and critical, inclusive and evidence-informed dialogue are crucial to global survival.
Thus the Philippines thanks the Government of Indonesia the organizers and partners as we enjoin all to be vigilant in our single-minded understanding that access to water is a basic human right, and safe, sustainable water supply systems are key to achieving inclusive and sustainable development. ###