11 Million Filipino Families Lack Access to Clean Water

According to the National Water Resource Board (NWRB), over 11 million families in the Philippines, which make up 41.6% of the total number of Filipino families, lack access to clean water due to insufficient supply and sanitation. Senate Majority Leader Joel Villanueva expressed his dismay at this situation, calling it a sad reality. In response, Villanueva introduced Senate Bill No. 1048, also known as the Safe Drinking Water Act, which would require water service providers to submit a water safety plan, conduct regular water quality checks every two months, and obtain permits and certifications, such as a Certificate of Potability for drinking water.

Villanueva emphasized the importance of the government’s active involvement in ensuring that all Filipinos have safe and clean drinking water by implementing a comprehensive management program for water safety planning. He also introduced Senate Bill No. 2013, known as the National Water Act, which aims to establish a national framework for water resource management, create the Department of Water Resources, and the Water Regulatory Commission.

The creation of the Department of Water Resources is one of the priority measures of the Marcos administration, which was highlighted in the President’s first State of the Nation Address. Villanueva stressed the need for a government body focused solely on water resource management, especially in an archipelagic country like the Philippines with abundant water resources. He believes that the establishment of the Department of Water Resources and the Water Regulatory Commission will improve coordination among regulatory bodies and strengthen the implementation of water-related laws.

World Water Day, declared by the United Nations since 1993, falls on March 22 every year to raise awareness of the 2 billion people worldwide living without access to clean water.