THE FRESHWATER IN

THE PHILIPPINES:
PRESENT STATUS

Febwin E Villaceran
drfebwin25@gmail.com
0908.357.5463
Introduction
• Water is essential for life and sustainable human development.

• Freshwater constitutes only 2.7% of the earth's water resources.

• Two-thirds of the water from rainfall goes back to the atmosphere

through evaporation.

• Of the remaining water, more than one-half flows out into the sea.
Only 8% of the world's freshwater is used for human and
sanitation needs, while 60-70% is used for agriculture and 20% for
industry (Singh, 1996).
Introduction
• The Philippines has a rainfall of 2500mm and freshwater resources
consisting of surface inland waters (lakes, rivers, reservoirs and
swamps) and groundwater.

• There are about 70 lakes in the country with an aggregate area of

200,000 hectares and 106,328 hectares of freshwater swamps.

• There are also 424 principal rivers and 30,000 hectares of dams and
reservoirs in the country.

• The groundwater in the aquifers of the Philippines has been estimated

to be under a 100,000 square kilometer area (Guerrero, 1995).
Introduction
• As published in national newspaper:
“4 of 17 Luzon Rivers Found 'Dead'“.

• The biologically dead rivers identified

were the Maasin-Potiero-Gumain
River System, Caulamang-Marella
River System, Pamatawan River and
Rio Chico in Bulacan and Pampanga.
Introduction
• The San Fernando River in
Pampanga was also reported to be the
most heavily polluted (Arias 1991 ).

• In another news item, it was revealed

that only 12% of the Metro Manila
population had access to sewers and
that while 40% of all rivers in the
country are now "dead", all the rivers
in Metro Manila are "dead" (Giron
1991 ).
The Present Trend

• WATER plays a central and critical role in all

aspects of life. It is essential to health,
agricultural and industrial enterprises.

• The challenge, therefore, is to ensure, the

sufficiency and clean water to supply the needs.

• The focus on the water resources is often on the

volume of water available for particular purposes. RAMON J.P. PAJE
Secretary, DENR
National Water Resource
Board, 2013
The Present Trend
• However, WATER QUALITY is equally important as it
determines the suitability of water for a particular
purpose.

• The reality is that most of the cities and municipalities

are situated along rivers, lakes, and coastal areas.

• The quality of these water resources is under constant

threat from harmful and damaging effects of human
activity.

• Water pollution has increased greatly over the years RAMON J.P. PAJE
Secretary, DENR
with the growth of population and the economy. National Water Resource
Board, 2013
National Water Resource Board Report, 2013
• The country has 18 major river basins and 421
principal rivers as defined by the National Water
Resources Board (NWRB).

• The area occupied by the river basins is 108,923sq

km, which represents more than one-third of the
country’s total land area .
National Water Resource Board Report, 2013
• The largest river basin is Cagayan with a catchment area of
25,649 sq km.

• It encompasses CAR and Region 2 and the province of

Aurora in Region 3.

• It is utilized for hydroelectric power as several dams/power

plants are built within its proximity. These are:

a. Magat Multi-Purpose Dam

b. Magat A and B Small Hydroelectric Plant
c. National Irrigation Administration-Baligatan
d. Tumauini Small Hydroelectric Plant
e. Casecnan Hydroelectric Power Plant
 National Water Resource
Board Report, 2006 - 2013

Pop: 92.3M

Major River Basins in the Philippines

 National Water Resource
Board Report, 2006 - 2013

Pop: 92.3M

Major Lakes Basins in the Philippines

 National Water Resource
GROUND WATER Board Report, 2006 - 2013

• Extensively used for domestic (drinking water) and irrigation

purposes.

• From the 2013 statistics of NWRB, the total amount of registered

water withdrawal from groundwater is estimated at 3.7 million
cubic meters; of which 54 percent is used for domestic and 25
percent is used for irrigation. Regions with high groundwater
utilization are Regions 3, 4A, 4B, 6, and 12.
 National Water Resource
GROUND WATER Board Report, 2006 - 2013

• Furthermore, a 2006 study (Simulating the Hydraulic Effects of Climate

Change on Groundwater Resources in a Selected Aquifer in the Philippines
Using a Numerical Groundwater Model) by the Southeast Asian Regional
Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture simulated the effects
of high temperature and low precipitation in a shallow aquifer in
Laguna.

• Results showed that the groundwater level was incrementally declining at an

average rate of 0.4 inch per year as annual precipitation decreased.

• In addition, by the end of 2050, groundwater levels are likely to decrease by

17 inches due to increasing domestic, agricultural, and industrial uses of
groundwater as well as economic development in the area.
Number of Water Bodies per Classification and
Beneficial Use (NWRB Report 2006 - 2013)
Fecal Coliform Monitoring Results under the
Tapwatch Program (DENR- EMB, 2008)
 Issues and Challenges on the Water
Environment Legislation (DENR Report, 2016)
• Inadequate logistical support to strictly
enforce the clean water act and related laws
(financial and technical)
• Inadequate capacity of the law implementers
especially at the local level.
• Low awareness of the stakeholders on the
existing law, rules and regulations on
wastewater management.
 Issues and Challenges on the Water
Environment Legislation (DENR Report, 2016)
• Weak cooperation among different
government agencies and Local Government
Units, hence derail law enforcement.

• Big investment on the part of industrial

establishments to put up WTF as a results of
the inclusion of additional parameters in the
new effluent standard
Philippine Development Plan for 2011 to 2016
(DENR, 2013)
• Conservation, protection, and rehabilitation of water
resources.
• Sustainable management of forests and watersheds.
• Enhanced management of coastal and marine
resources.
• Reduction of water pollution; reduction of waste
generation.
• Improvement of waste disposal.
BEST PRACTICES AND LESSONS LEARNED
IN WATER QUALITY MANAGEMENT
• Inter Agency and multi-sectoral approach on the
management of water bodies.
• Providing Rewards and incentives to improve
environmental performance.
• Initiatives from LGUs, civil society and other
stakeholders.
• Investments in sanitation, sewerage and wastewater
treatment.
• Research and Development Efforts in Water Quality
Management Technologies
THE FRESHWATER IN
THE PHILIPPINES:
PRESENT STATUS

THANK YOU VERY MUCH

Febwin E Villaceran
drfebwin25@gmail.com
0908.357.5463