MANILA – President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. is reviewing a proposal to implement an Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) program for the country.
“This program is an approach to promote the coordinated development and management of water, land, and related resources to maximize economic and social welfare without compromising our ecosystem,” the Office of the President said on its official Facebook page.
Marcos is also the Secretary of the Department of Agriculture.
The President urged Congress in his first State of the Nation Address on July 25 to pass a bill creating a Department of Water Resources.
The proposed IWRM, he said, will be adopted as the strategic framework for national water management, policymaking, and planning once the department is established.
According to Marcos, he wanted the government to look into the fresh water supply situation in the country, particularly in urban areas.
Many of the country’s water supply systems date back to the 1950s and now require rehabilitation and improvement, he noted.
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources and the Department of Public Works and Highways have been ordered by the President to explore possible partnerships with the private sector to address this crucial situation.
