Progress of Water Environment

Governance in the Philippines

Vicente B. Tuddao, Jr. Ph.D
Career Executive Service Officer IV
Assistant Regional Director for Technical Services/Director III
Department of Environment and Natural Resources
MIMAROPA Region, Philippines

The 14th WEPA Annual Meeting

22 February 2019
Tokyo

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THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES PROFILE
• It has an economy that is a newly industrialized
country, transitioning from agriculture to one based
more on services and manufacturing. As of 2019, GDP
(PPP) was estimated to be at US$1.041 trillion (World
Bank, September 2018), US$354 billion(nominal). The
13th largest economy in asia.

• There are 820,253 establishments (based on 18 industry

type) throughout the country, wherein 60% are
located within the Manila Bay Region (Metro Manila,
Region 3, and Region 4A). Of these number 112,789
are manufacturing industries.

• Main manufacturing industries are pulp and paper mills,

sugar mills, alcohol distilleries, food processing, plastic
and consumer goods, copper smelter, glass plant, steel
mills, cement plant, electronics assembly, aerospace,
textiles, petroleum refining and shipbuilding.
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STATUS OF RIVERS IN THE PHILIPPINES

Out of the 421 Principal Rivers,

180 are relatively
polluted/degraded

The rapid increase in population, urbanization and

industrial development has led to the river basin
degradation and deterioration which is due mainly to
water pollution.

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Source: Nat’l Water Quality Status Report, EMB  (Based on BOD loadings)

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 Results of Water Quality Monitoring of Priority Rivers*
* Does not include 4 rivers in National 
Capital Region(NCR). A total of 19 rivers 
nationwide are considered priority 
principal rivers subject for regular  
monitoring

Total 
Area: 
300,000 
Sq km

• DO, 5mg/l (standard for ambient): 
6 rivers passed 
• BOD, 7 mg/l (standard): 7 rivers 
passed
• Only 4 rivers passed both the DO 
and BOD standards
EMB Annual Report, 2016
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 Bathing Beaches Monitoring Stations
Monitoring of Bathing
Beaches in Manila Bay

• Nineteen (19) Bathing

beaches were
monitored for fecal
coliform count
from 2013 to 2017.
• Out of the 19 stations
monitored only one (1)
station passed the SB
Criteria for fecal coliform
of 200MPN/100ml
(Dalaroy’s Resort in
2016)
• Php7.0 billion project programmed for the massive
rehabilitation of Manila Bay in progress (2019 onward) under
DENR leadership. This is also in compliance with the Supreme
court’s issued Writ of Mandamus to clean the bay.
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Php7.0 billion project programmed for the massive rehabilitation
of Manila Bay in progress (2019 onward) under DENR
leadership. This is also in compliance with the Supreme court’s
issued Writ of Mandamus to clean the bay.

Strategies:
• Strengthen law enforcement
• Strong political will
• Strong private sector participation (CSR)
• Interagency cooperation and collaboration
• Sufficient budget support from the government
• Stakeholders participation and
cooperation/change of attitude or behaviour

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Status of Wastewater Management in the Philippines
• Only 10% of wastewater is treated;

• Only 5% of the total population is connected to a sewer network. The vast

majority uses flush toilets connected to septic tanks;

• 76.8 percent of families in the Philippines have sanitary toilet facilities

(DOH, 2008).

• Less than 10 percent have access to piped sewerage systems. Those that are
not connected to a sewerage network rely on septic tanks, pit latrines, or
practice open defecation.

• In Metro Manila, 43 sewage treatment plants (STPs) and septage treatment

plants (SpTPs) service more than a million residents or around nine percent
of the region’s entire population. An average of 9.4 million kilograms of
BOD was removed per year during this four-year period. The highest
pollution load reduction was attained in 2012 with 9.5 million kilograms of
BOD removed.

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• The estimated total annual volume of wastewater produced from both
municipal and major agricultural industries is about 7,465 million cubic
meters. This data may be considered inadequate because there are other
industries that are producing wastewater but their data are not readily
available.

Sewage Treatment Plant in

Balanga, Bataan, Philippines designed
to serve 180, 000 households in the
province of Bataan.

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 Total 
Total 
Area: 
Area: 
300,000 
300,000 
Sq
Sqkm
km

Balanga, Bataan Balanga, Bataan

Location of Some of the

Sewage Treatment Plants
in Metro Manila and
Adjacent Provinces
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On-going Construction of Php100 Million STP in Puerto Galera-Sabang
Beach Area Prime Tourist Destination to service both domestic and
commercial establishments along the beach area with a capacity of 1,750
cubic meters per day expected to be operational before the end of 2019

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 PHILIPPINE CLEAN WATER ACT OF 2004
(Republic Act No. 9275)

To control wastewater discharges, DENR has enforced

the Wastewater Discharge Permitting System

• All Owners Or Operators Of Facilities That Discharge

Regulated Effluents Shall Secure Wastewater Discharge
Permit (DP).
• DP is the legal authorization granted by the DENR to
discharge wastewater into a water body.

• The DENR Implements Wastewater Charge System (WCS) in all

Management Areas and Regional Industrial Centers through the
Collection of Wastewater Charges/Fees.

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PHILIPPINE CLEAN WATER ACT OF 2004
(Republic Act No. 9275)
Provides For A Comprehensive
And Integrated Strategy
To Prevent And Minimize Pollution
Through A Multi-Sectoral And
Participatory Approach
Involving All The Stakeholders.
The Clean Water Act Applies To:

• Water quality management in all water bodies.

• Abatement and control of pollution from
land-based sources.
• Enforcement of water quality standards,
regulations and penalties.

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 Water Body Classification and Usage of Freshwaters
(Rivers, Lakes)

Classification Intended Beneficial Use

Public Water Supply Class I – Intended
Class AA primarily for waters having watersheds, which
AA are uninhabited and otherwise protected, and
which require only approved disinfection to
meet the Philippine National Standards for
Drinking Water (PNSDW)
Public Water Supply Class II – For sources of
water supply requiring conventional treatment
(coagulation, sedimentation, filtration and
disinfection) to meet the latest PNSDW
A

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Water Body Classification and Usage of Freshwaters (Rivers, Lakes)

Classification Beneficial Use

Recreational Water Class I – intended for

primary contact recreation (bathing, swimming,
B skin diving, etc.)

• Fishery Water for the propagation and

growth of fish and other aquatic resources
• Recreational Water Class II (Boating, fishing
C or similar activities)
• For agriculture, irrigation, and livestock
watering)

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DENR ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER NO. 2016-08
(An amendment of DAO 1990-35)

WATER QUALITY GUIDELINES AND GENERAL

EFFLUENT STANDARDS OF 2016

Discharges from any point source shall at all times meet the
effluent standards
The GES shall be used regardless of the
industry category and volume of discharge
Effluent used for agricultural purposes shall conform to the DA
Administrative Order No. 2007-26.

DAO 2016- 08 has also provision for the water classification

of water bodies for the purpose of maintaining the
quality of water based on beneficial usage.

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Effluent Standards (DAO 2016-08)

Parameter Class A Class B Class C Class D

Ammonia as NH3-N, 0.5 0.5 0.5 7.5

mg/L
BOD5,mg/L 20 30 50 120
Boron, mg/L 2 2 3 12

Chloride, mg/L 350 350 450 500

COD, mg/L 60 60 100 200

Color, TCU 100 100 150 300
Cyanide as Free Cyanide, 0.14 0.14 0.2 0.4
mg/L
Fluoride, mg/L 2 2 2 4

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 Effluent Standards (DAO 2016-08)

Parameter Class A Class B Class C Class D

Nitrate as NO3-N, mg/L 14 14 14 30

pH (Range) 6.0-9.0 6.0-9.0 6.0-9.5 5.5-9.5

Phosphate, mg/L 1 1 1 10

Selenium, mg/L 0.02 0.02 0.04 0.08

Sulfate, mg/L 500 500 550 1,000

Surfactants (MBAS), mg/L 2 3 15 30

Temperature(h) °C change 3 3 3 3

Total Suspended Solids, 70 85 100 150

mg/L
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Effluent Standards (DAO 2016-08)

Parameter Class A Class B Class C Class D

Arsenic, mg/L 0.02 0.02 0.04 0.08

Barium, mg/L 1.5 1.5 6 8

Cadmium, mg/L 0.006 0.006 0.01 0.02

Chromium as Hexavalent 0.02 0.02 0.02 0.04

Chromium (Cr6+)

Copper as dissolved 0.04 0.04 0.04 0.08

Copper, mg/L
Iron, mg/L 5 5 7.5 35
Lead, mg/L 0.02 0.02 0.1 0.2
Manganese, mg/L 2 2 2 20

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National Government Agencies with Primary mandates
on Water Environment Governance

Executive Order No. 192 (1987)

“The Department of Environment and Natural Resources
(DENR) shall be the primary government agency responsible for the conservation,
management, development, and proper use of the country’s environment and natural
resources.”

The Environmental Management Bureau is the primary

government agency under the DENR mandated

‐ to formulate, integrate, coordinate, supervise, and implement all policies, plans,

programs, projects and activities relative to the prevention and control of pollution as well
as management and enhancement of environment

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Other Government Agencies with related mandates on Water
Environment governance:

• Laguna Lake Development Authority – to formulate, regulate and

implement all policies, plans, programs, projects and activities relative to the
prevention and control of pollution as well as management and enhancement of
environment in Laguna Lake Region
• Pasig River Rehabilitation Commission – Coordinate and integrate, and
monitor the implementation of all Government Agencies plans, and programs for
the rehabilitation of Pasig river
• Department of Public Works and Highways –It is the primary agency
that implement the country’s national Sewerage and Septage Management
• Metro Manila Development Authority – administer governance of MM
area development such as infrastructure development, law enforcement of
environmental laws- solid waste management, Clean Water Act, Water Code of
the Philippines, Clean Air Act, etc.

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• Department of Health (DoH) – administer the compliance of the country’s
National Standard for Drinking Water Program
• Metro Manila Sewage and Sewerage System (MWSS) – Governance of
the water supply program of Metro Manila and other provinces, and directly
oversee the implementation of plans and programs of the two water
concessionaires, namely: Manila Water Company (MWC) and Maynilad Water
Services Co.(MWSC)
• Local Government Units (LGUs) – administer/management of rivers
within the jurisdiction of the LGUs, and implement Ecological Solid Waste
Management Act within its area of political and jurisdictional responsibility.
• Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) – administer the
implementation of the country’s National Water Supply and Sanitation
Program, and mandated to oversee the attainment of the country’s SDG goal on
access to safe drinking water by all.

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• Under the National Sewerage and Septage Management
Program, the LGUs shall share the responsibility in the
management and improvement of water quality within their
territorial jurisdictions.

• Local Government Units are the key players in the Water

Quality Management Areas designated by DENR in
accordance with Sec. 5 of the Clean Water Act and its IRR

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MONITORING OF THE INDUSTRIES
Level Responsible Report Requirement
Person/Office
Project Pollution Control Officer Self-Monitoring Report
Proponent/Company (SMR) and/or (CMR)
Compliance Monitoring
Report

Multi-Partite Team headed by the company Audit Report / CMR

Monitoring (MMT) or composed of various
Third Party Stakeholders (LGU, Non
Monitoring Government Organizations
(NGOs) and other sectors)

Regulating body EMB Central Office / EMB- Compliance Evaluation

Regional Offices Report

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METHODS OF MONITORING THE INDUSTRIES

Table Monitoring
 Documents submitted
o reports (Self-Monitoring Report)
o plans
o required permits (discharge permit)
o other proof of compliance or
implementation

Field Monitoring
Site Validation (actual plant inspection
and effluent sampling plus validation of
submitted reports)

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 STATUS OF COMPLIANCE BY INDUSTRIAL / COMMERCIAL
ESTABLISHMENTS TO THE CLEAN WATER ACT

• Based on records of the DENR-EMB, of the total industries in

the Manila Bay Region that have been monitored from 2011-
2015, only 45.41% are complying with the DENR Standards /
or have been issued Wastewater Discharge Permit. At the
National level, about 50% are complying.

• This means that many have been issued Notices of

Violation (NOV) and are still implementing measures (such
as construction of wastewater treatment facility) so as to
treat their wastewater. Or some still have pending case with
PAB (payment of fines/penalties)

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 PENALTIES AND LIABILITIES FOR NON-COMPLIANCE

Anyone who commits violation of of the General

Effluent Standards (GES), case shall be elevated to the
Pollution Adjudication Board (PAB) for issuance of a
“Cease and Desist Order” (CDO).

Violation Penalty/Civil Liability

Anyone who commits any of Upon recommendation of the PAB,

the prohibited acts or violates Fine of not less than PhP10,000 but
any of the provisions of this not more than P200,000 for every day
Act & its IRR of violation

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 Violation Penalty/Civil Liability
Imprisonment not less than 2yrs but
Failure to undertake not more than 4 yrs.; A fine of not
clean‐up less than PhP50,000 but not more
operations– wilfully or than PhP100,000 per day of violation
through gross negligence

Failure or refusal to Imprisonment of not less than 6 yrs.

clean‐up and 1 day and not more than 12 yrs.
which results in serious injury and fine of PhP500,000 per day for
or each violation
loss of life or lead to
irreversible
water contamination
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 Violation Penalty/Civil Liability
Gross violation of the Act, PAB shall issue resolution
-Deliberate discharge of toxic recommending that proper
pollutants gov’t agencies file criminal
-Five (5) or more violations within a charges against violator
period of 2years
-Blatant disregard of the orders of
the PAB, such as non-payment of
fines, breaking of seals or operating
despite the existence of an order for
closure, discontinuance or cessation
of operation.

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 On-Going Major Environmental Law Enforcement

• Clean Up Drive of Boracay Beach Area- Issued Notice of

Violation (NOVs) and Cease and Desist Order (CDOs)to various
commercial establishments in Boracay Beach Areas (Prime Tourist
Destination), Province of Aklan, in violation of Clean Water Act;
Demolished various establishments in violation of the easement
rule under the Water Code of the Philippines.

• Rehabilitation of Manila Bay- on-going massive ground

inspection and issued Notice of violation (NOVs) and CDOs of
violating commercial establishments/hotels for failure to establish
STPs/wastewater treatment plants. A total of Php7.0 billion was
allocated by the government for this major program of the
DENR starting 2019 (5 year program);

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• Clean Up Drive of other major Beach Areas of prime Tourist
destination in MIMAROPA region namely: Coron, El Nido and
San Vicente, in Palawan, and Puerto Galera in Oriental Mindoro.
Issued Notice of Violation (NOVs) and Cease and Desist Orders
(CDO)to various commercial establishments in violation of
Clean Water Act; Demolished various establishments in violation
of the easement rule under the Water Code of the Philippines.

• Clean Up drive and rehabilitation of selected major/principal

rivers in the country.

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Targets Metro Manila and for Areas Outside Metro Manila
• By 2037, 100 percent of all households (with projected population of
15 million ) and commercial establishments within Metro Manila
should have connected to sewer lines for the wastewater treatment
facilities/plants to be put up and operated by the Manila Water Company
and Maynilad Water Services Co. in line with the 25 year contracts signed
between said companies and the government through the MWSS;

• By 2020, all LGUs have developed septage management systems and the 17
highly urbanized cities have developed sewerage systems.

• By 2020, approximately 43.6 million people have access to SpTPs and about
3.2 million will have access to STPs.

• By 2020, PhP 26.3 billion has been invested in sanitation improvement projects.

• By 2020, about 346 million kg of BOD is diverted from the environment per
year as a result of the sewerage and septage management projects

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Issues and challenges needed to be addressed to Improve Water
Environment Governance

• Increase access to the new knowledge and technologies generated

from international R&D standards for the effective and efficient
management of domestic wastewater through WEPA
• Participation to the global or regional network for the access to
information on improved approaches/strategies, and access to
financial and technical assistance in the development of the
country’s comprehensive domestic wastewater treatment systems and
facilities; and
• With the foundation for sustainable water quality management
already laid out, the main challenge now lies in the continuation of
existing water quality management policies and programs to
rehabilitate and preserve the quality of the country’s water bodies,
and ultimately, achieve and sustain quality life for future generations

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