Broader Water Agenda

Critical in dealing with the social contract needed to address flooding is a more pragmatic integration of laws regarding water management. There is the need for much better assessment of area geography, flood and erosion mitigation, water resource utilization and rehabilitation. The proper implementation of existing laws would go a long way in making significant changes. The present integration of the CLUP and FLUP5 by local government for the first time can lay the basis for better sustainable utilization of resources and attention to livelihood and greater human security of the local population.

Society needs to review the laws already in the books and those in process while others look at present and possible integration. There are various laws in the Philippines that can be consolidated. Starting in the uplands and whatever the forestland use prevailing, there is a 200-metre restriction on bank activities and management requirements. Where these areas are declared as critical watersheds, the management mandate is held by PAMB with a PASU6 but generally with inadequate or no finances available. In areas declared as critical watersheds due to downstream infrastructure, the response is often reforestation efforts, poorly managed and the understanding of which is often misplaced. Water resources are covered by over 40 government and semi-government institutions and under discussion for the last decade with the efforts to pass a National Land and Water Act to integrate responsibilities. However, avoiding these pitfalls and Congress as it stands, there are the more productive routes to go with the Local Government Code and what authority it has to intervene, relocate, and develop disaster preparedness. Reinvigoration of the local disaster coordinating councils and some river councils may bring in better ordinances and provisions for town planning and land utilization.

There is a need for well-focused policy addressing the environmental and social issues of concern to those most likely to bear the impact of such disasters. Such a policy should reflect the need for access of poorer communities to non-threatened high land, sustainable management of forests, maintenance of river courses to minimise potential for blockage, planned flood relief to wetland areas, requirements of flood control mechanisms, and emergency response planning as key components in mitigating disaster management.

A study of geographical characteristics helps local authorities review their increasing knowledge and responsibility of risk management. The identification of present projects that conserve land and water under different levels of government, traditional and corporate land use, can aid greater local awareness and participation. Local governments need to develop the data and information to compare, across islands and regions, the rivers in terms of elevation to shore ratios, catchment area and precipitation, discharge and flood duration. Local government can help people and focus planning to consider where the greatest flood damage occurs and to better inform national planning of the extent of the problem. Knowledge of the area pattern and frequency of disaster, debris, landslides, slope failure, major disasters allows for a more proactive response and setting of priorities. Attention must be given to identifying and understanding the social and environmental context of the current situation. Social and environmental mapping can be used to identify vulnerable communities and economic resources. This approach should be underpinned by simple, effective, and well-planned monitoring to allow responsive decision-making. This should include some understanding of the potential future impacts of climate change. The development of appropriate local/regional/national policies needs to be based on up-to-date information and with appropriate consultation.

Flood and erosion mitigation measures require better river information systems. The impact of urbanization can be better related to flooding and elements of a more comprehensive flood management can be drawn up. Super levees, dam control, sediment retention, schematic controls, slope failure stabilization, coastal works, interactive systems and emergency response can all become part of a consistent and focused response.

Water resource use and development can benefit from being integrated so that there is greater complementarity in the work. Planning in terms of per capita precipitation and per capita storage helps better manage water consumption growth. Drought lessons and vulnerability concerns are better addressed and there is a basis for drought conciliation and clarifying water rights and priorities. Water resource development in terms of inter-basin transfer, weirs, irrigation systems, small domestic dams, lake utilization can be more smoothly undertaken. In this way the quality of the water environment can be improved, lakes and streams restored, traditional river culture and celebration enhanced, and development efforts can be made more naturally responsive to sustain the environment.

Where we hope to be going is along a path of greater coordination in response to disasters and the development of a social contract by which society will seek to live more considerate of the risks to all and the more immediate human security of others and sustainability of our environment.