Big water problem

In 2010, the United Nations declared that safe and clear drinking water is a human right “essential to full enjoyment of life and all other human rights.”

In the Philippines, it is estimated that 15,000 barangays do not have 100% access to safe water. Most towns have piped in water only in the poblacions but not in the farther barangays and sitios.

President Aquino in his SONA announced a program to electrify 36,000 sitios but no similar program was announced to provide access to safe water in the sitios.

Department of Health figures show the following provinces with the lowest access to water:

Lanao del Sur 39.7%; Tawi Tawi 44.6%; Northern Samar 50.6%; Tarlac 57.6%; Pangasinan 67%, Maguindanao 67%; Pampanga 67.2%; Palawan; 69.4%; Oriental Mindoro 69.5%

Based on the above report, it is accurate to say that 30-35% of the entire country has no access to safe water.

In many provinces, including Pampanga and Pangasinan, the artesian and deep wells have gone dry, causing a sinking of the grounds.

Based on 2003 data, 63% of ground water is consumed by the domestic sector, agriculture 17%, industry 13% and other sectors 7%.

According to the World Bank, only 44 percent have direct house connections. Those without house connections access water from wells, springs, communal faucets, or informal providers.

The bottled water business is booming adding to the day to day expenses of a family. Filipinos now spend more for water than for rice.

The problem is that there is no regulation of water providers and no standards have been set.

Another sad statistic: people in the provinces pay as much as ten times more for water than residents of Metro Manila.

And the problem is going to worsen. A study by the Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA) estimated that all major cities of the Philippines will experience water shortages starting 2025. Deforestation and pollution has affected the country’s water supply which will further be affected by climate change.

President Aquino issued Executive Order 62 last October 2011 creating an interagency committee headed by the DPWH Secretary. But since then, we have not heard any action by the committee.

This is a critical situation. We have seen diarrhea outbreaks all over the country due to contaminated drinking water. And as usual, it is the poor families who are victimized.

What needs to be done? A study by USAID and Water Sanitation Program (WSP) made the following recommendations:

1. Higher investments in the sanitation sector.
2. Underserved areas are top priority.
3. Information and behavior-change campaigns.
4. Evaluate technology options for improved sanitation.
5. More research on the impacts of poor sanitation.

–Ernesto M. Maceda (The Philippine Star)