Policies and strategies
- The Water Code (1976) and the Sanitation Code (1975) consolidate various water and sanitation policies and standards.
- The Philippine Clean Water Act (2004), in addition to Implementing Rules and Regulations (2005), aims to protect the country’s water bodies from pollution, and provides for a comprehensive water quality management. The act also covers a National Policy on Urban Sewerage and Sanitation (1994) and an accompanying Management Programme, which stress the importance of providing sewerage and on-site sanitation, and establishing a wastewater permit and charging system. Since the 1990s, private sector participation and decentralization are the main objectives of water policies.
Institutions
- The government agency National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) coordinates the preparation of national development plan and investment programmes; formulates sector policies and strategies; and monitors the implementation of policies, programmes and projects. NEDA issued in 1994 a resolution delineating responsibilities to government agencies in the sector to minimize overlapping.
- With the Local Government Code of 1991, Local Government Units (LGUs) at provincial, city and municipal levels became responsible for the provision of water supply and sanitation services to their constituents. It mandated local governments to guide, finance, and manage water supply and sanitation development.
- Parallel to the growth of the country's urban centres, water supply agencies were organized: the National Water and Sewerage Authority in 1970 evolved in 1973 and 1974 into the Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA) and the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS). While the MWSS takes responsibility for Metro Manila, the LWUA supports the creation and operation of water systems in urban areas and environs. LWUA also supports local Water Boards.
- The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) is the government agency for implementing water sector legislation. With the continuing increase of population and usage of the country's water resources, as well as the heightening concern for water pollution, the government created the National Water Resources Board (NWRB) to coordinate water development and develop relevant policies. NWBR is further entrusted with economic regulation of LGU-operated systems and water districts.
- To address rural water supply, the government founded the Rural Waterworks Development Corporation (RWDC) in 1980. Its functions, however, were later taken over by the LWUA. The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) was tasked with administrative and institutional aspects of rural water systems, while the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) provides technical assistance.
- The Department of Health (DOH) undertakes water quality regulation and sets standards on testing, treatment and surveillance. Besides setting and monitoring drinking water standards, the DOH formulates and implements sanitation programmes to address environmental and water related diseases, and is engaged in hygiene education.
