Senator Manuel “Lito” Lapid has called on the Senate to expedite the passage of the bill seeking to establish a Department of Water Resources—a centralized agency that would implement a comprehensive framework for water management.

In his speech at the 30th PWWA International Conference and Exhibition in Boracay last October 24, Lapid made the pitch as he cited the important role water plays in sustaining the country's tourism, agriculture and economy.

“For all we know, there's a looming water crisis that we have to deal with before it becomes a serious problem for our country,” said Lapid, chairman of the Senate Committee on Tourism, in pushing for Senate Bill No. 2771. 

“No part of the country should be deprived of water and its supply should be stable and sustainable throughout the Philippines,” he said.

Lapid also stressed that solving the country’s looming water crisis should be a collaboration between the government and the private sector. 

SB No. 2771 is now pending in the Senate plenary. The creation of a Department of Water will help centralize funding, development of resources and infrastructures and expansion of the country's water supply, which can be depleted in the event of storms and floods.

“The Department of Water Resources (DWR) will be in charge of all operations related to water management in our country,” he said.

“With the DWR we will be able to bring drinking water to even the most remote areas of our town and we will ensure that there is clean, and affordable water for everyone," Lapid stressed. 

In September 2024, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. pushed for the reorganization of water management in the country with the creation of the Department of Water Resources (DWR) at the sixth meeting of the Legislative Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC).

Last year, the President signed Executive Order No. 22 mandating the creation of a Water Resources Management Office which is under the supervision of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).