BBM's water management plan focuses on 40 million previously unserved

PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. directed the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and related agencies to focus on the 40 million Filipinos found to have no formal water supply. Most of the underserved population are at the BARMM in Mindanao and small island barangay (villages) and LGUs nationwide. At Tuesday's sectoral meeting, the DENR presented findings from their nationwide mapping of natural resources, including water, forests, minerals and coastal areas. This study highlighted that at least 40 million Filipinos still don't have access to water services. The President directed programs and investments to attain universal safe water supply and sanitation by 2030.

While the whole world is facing pressure on its water resources, countries like the Philippines still have to catch up to serve their growing population while continuing to fight the effects of climate change. The World Bank sees a 40 percent shortfall between forecast demand and available water supply by 2030 due to the fast-growing global population. Increased agricultural needs will put further pressure on water, which is already scarce in many parts of the world. Even in countries with relatively good water supply and management, such as Canada, the rising costs of replacing aging infrastructure are becoming a problem.