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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider JV Ejercito to gov't: Expedite creation of Department of Water Resources Management

JV Ejercito to gov't: Expedite creation of Department of Water Resources Management

Published Oct 22, 2025 01:26 pm

At A Glance

  • Senate Deputy Majority Leader Joseph Victor "JV" Ejercito has called on the government to fast-track the creation of a Department of Water Resources Management that will unify all water-related functions of government.
Sen. Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito proposes to have a masterplan for infrastructure and national development, underscoring its significance to the country. During Monday’s hearing, October 20, 2025, of the Finance Subcommittee A, Ejercito asked the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to support Senate Bill No. 2 or the Masterplan for Infrastructure and National Development (MIND) Act which he authored. (Senate PRIB photo)
Sen. Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito proposes to have a masterplan for infrastructure and national development, underscoring its significance to the country. During Monday’s hearing, October 20, 2025, of the Finance Subcommittee A, Ejercito asked the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to support Senate Bill No. 2 or the Masterplan for Infrastructure and National Development (MIND) Act which he authored. (Senate PRIB photo)

Senate Deputy Majority Leader Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito has called on the government to fast-track the creation of a Department of Water Resources Management that will unify all water-related functions of government.

Ejercito renewed his call for the creation of the department which he envisions to also prevent corruption in flood control and other water projects, and strengthen the country’s response to both flooding and water scarcity.

The senator said it is high-time that the government place all water management, flood control and dam operations under a single agency to ensure efficient use of water resources, considering the country’s recurring problems of drought during dry months and severe flooding during rainy season. 

“It’s about time that we really put all projects for water management — dams, spillways, flood control — under one full-fledged department,” Ejercito said during the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) budget hearing of the Committee on Finance on Monday, October 20.

“Water is becoming scarcer every day. ‘Pag tag-ulan, ang dami nating tubig; ‘pag tag-init, tuyong-tuyo, wala naman tayong tubig. Nasasayang (When it’s raining, we have a lot of water, when it’s dry season, we lack water. There’s wastage,” he pointed out. 

The senator further said the proposed Department of Water Resources will help ensure efficient management of resources and that floodwater can be properly impounded for future use.

DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon said he fully supports such proposal, saying that President Marcos also supports the idea.

“I think the President himself has supported this initiative. I think it is part of several discussions already with Congress and especially on the LEDAC,” Dizon said. 

“We fully support the creation of a separate Department of Water that will handle this. It is very, very important po yung water resources management. We will support this 100% po,” the DPWH chief added. 

Related Tags

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