Water Situation and Government Actions (June 2013)

7/28/2019 Water Situation and Government Actions (June 2013)

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WATER IS LIFE


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Water is life

The right to water is an international right andshould be taken as basic human right.

Thus it is a responsibility of governments toensure that people can enjoy sufficient, safe,accessible and affordable water, withoutdiscrimination.


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Water is life

On July 28, 2010, UN General

Assembly declared that access to safeand clean drinking water is a humanright essential to the full enjoyment of

life and other human rights


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Water is life

In the Philippines, based on 2009

government statistics, 17.1 % of allfamilies in the country do not haveaccess to safe drinking water.


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Water is life

According to 2010 MDG report, 16 millionFilipinos do not have access to safe drinking

water.

30% of the poorest 30% of Filipino families

do not have access to safewater supply.


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Water is life

2007 Annual Poverty Indicator Survey(APIS) by NSO:

1. 17.1% of all families in the country do nothave access to safe drinking water.

2. Water sources are unsafe such as unprotecteddevelop & undevelop springs,

river, stream, pond,rain water, etc.


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WATER CRISIS


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Water Crisis

In the early 90s, the government wasthreatened by the water crisis brought

by the increasing population.

It was predicted that water supplydemand in the country, not to includeMetro Manila, would increase by75% in 1995-2000.


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Government

Action

Philippine Congress enacted Republic Act No.8041 otherwise known as the National Water

Crisis Act of 1995.

In February 1997, the Concession Agreementwas signed by the MWSS and two privateconcessionaires, Mayniladand Manila Waters


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Government

Action

Concession Agreement standard performance(MWSS- Maynilad, Manila Waters)

1. 100% water coverage in its respective concession areaswithin 10 years2. have no real increase in the water rates within the first 10

years3. provide uninterrupted, 24 hours water service to all

connected customers within 3 years, meetingstandards set by the DOH

4. put in place waste water program


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Privatized

Water System

In the past 15 years of the privatizedwater system in Metro Manila

1. Basic charges for Maynilad hiked by 564%

2. Manila Waters hiked by 1,083%


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Privatized

Water System

In the past 15 years of the privatizedwater system in Metro Manila

3. Only 60% of the Maynilad-connectedhouseholds have 24 hour water supply

4. Of the 99% coverage of ManilaWaters, third party contractor is involved


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Privatized

Water System

MWSS- Maynilad and Manila WatersConcession Agreement is further extended for another 15 years until 2037despite the CAs bad performance(originally 1997- 2022)


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PRO-PEOPLEACTIONS


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Actions

Taken

In 2003, Water for the People Network (WPN) wasestablished that would reinforce and coordinate water-related struggles

In 2004, Water System Employees Response (WATER)was established in reaction to the persistent threats of corporatization and privatization which will affect

some 30, 000 WD employees and workers


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Privatize

Water System

During the 15 th Congress, various versions of the Water Sector Reform Bill were filed in both houses. According to them:

- Water is a human right but also an economic good- Water district must be more friendly to private investors- A superbody that will administer the water system should becreated

At the same time, resulting privatization may result in the possible

job loss of employees from 600 water districts nationwide


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Water Districts

Protest

Because of the opposition from the Philippine Association of Water Districts and their members, the said bills were preventedfrom gaining ground in Congress.

Water districts worked with progressive party-listrepresentatives in publicizing the issue and getting the supportof other groups.


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Congress

Actions

During the 15 th Congress, the Makabayan bloc filed:

HB 6889 An act classifying services of water utilities, andsale or importation of equipment directly used in operating,maintaining, improving and expanding distribution of potablewater by water utilities as value-added tax exempttransactions, amending for the purpose section 109 (1) of

the National Internal Revenue Code, as amended by RA9337 (Rep. Casino, Bayan Muna)


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Congress

Actions


HR 2777 Resolution to conduct an investigation on thedrastic, arbitrary and dubious increase of Maynilad water bills, especially in Cavite, and the failure of water concessionaires to address said problem, to the detriment of innocent consumers (Rep. Casino,Bayan Muna)


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Congress

Actions


HR 109 Resolution initiating a comprehensive review andinvestigation into the Metropolitan Waterworks andSewerage System (MWSS) contracts of Water Concessionaires Maynilad Water Services Inc. and ManilaWaters Inc. and make immediate recommendations to

address the current water shortage(Rep. Mariano, Anakpawis)


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Congress

Actions


HR 894 Resolution to conduct an urgent inquiry on theunjust water rate hike approved by the MWSS RegulatoryOffice (Rep. Colmenares, Bayan Muna)


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Congress

Actions

Plans for the 16 th Congress:

Work closely with water districts and peoplesorganizations in crafting a major bill that will address

problems of the water sector and at the same time prohibiting further privatization of water utilities.


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Government

R ibilit

1. The right to water should be recognized by thegovernment as a basic human right

2. Water should never be subject to foreignexploitation

3. Water should be allocated for the basic needs of peoples survival and livelihood

4. Water should remain in the public domain

Statement of Principles Filipino Peoples Water Code - 1 st

NationalConvention on Water, August 2004

Documents

Water Situation and Government Actions (June 2013)