Brian Poe Lamanzares, the first nominee of the FPJ Panday Bayanihan Partylist, is pushing for the establishment of a Department of Water Management to tackle the worsening water crisis in the Philippines.
Lamanzares highlighted this need during the 6th Katipunan Conference on National Security and Economic Resilience, where he presented research on a "Governance Framework for the Philippine Water Security and Resource Management."
Currently, more than 30 government agencies handle different aspects of water management, which, according to Lamanzares, results in inconsistent policies and inefficiency. This fragmentation, he argues, limits the country’s ability to effectively manage water resources and worsens the ongoing crisis.
Lamanzares, echoing the concerns of his mother, Senator Grace Poe, stressed the irony of an archipelago like the Philippines suffering from water shortages. Senator Poe, who chairs the Senate Committee on Public Services, has filed several bills advocating for a Department of Water Resources, though these remain pending in Congress. She has also urged President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to create a Water Management Office through an executive order.
"A dedicated Water Management Department would enhance coordination, efficiency, and effectiveness in addressing complex water management issues. It would also allow for the development and retention of water management expertise, cricial for ensuring sustainable future," Lamanzares noted.
The urgency is underscored by the National Water Resource Board's data, which reveals that 11 million Filipino families still lack access to clean water, relying on deep wells, lakes, springs, and rainfall.
Lamanzares warned that this shortage could affect food security, urban growth, and overall national stability if not addressed promptly.
He called for an immediate roadmap for sustainability, envisioning a stable and self-reliant economy that prioritizes environmental and water resource management.
