Duterte urges collaboration across APAC to improve water access, services

President Rodrigo Duterte over the weekend called for regional collaboration among Asia Pacific nations to improve water access and services towards 2050, citing the challenges in the Philippines.

Speaking virtually before the Asia-Pacific Water Summit in Japan, Duterte noted that the Philippines continues to see an “enormous challenge” in ensuring universal access to safe, affordable, and accessible water.

“This requires an urgent sense of community action in the region, an integrated and coherent policy and the resolve to create opportunities for investment and collaboration for technological solutions,” he said.

“We also need to create a robust regime for regional sustainable water management,” he continued.

Duterte in 2019 threatened to take over water service concessionaires Maynilad Water Services Inc. and Manila Water Company Inc., given the water supply shortages experienced in Metro Manila that year.

Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra then said Duterte’s order led the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) to cancel the extension of concession agreements with the two firms.

Duterte earlier this year signed laws granting 25-year franchises to operate to both firms, but mandated them to submit a plan to achieve 100% water, sewerage, and sanitation coverage by 2037.

“We also need to promote transboundary benefits and interests for our common people’s development towards 2050 and beyond. After all, we have the unique but complementary national circumstances and development aspirations,” said Duterte.

“We need to forge a strong alliance between our strategic partners to address and influence corporations to ensure environmental compliance and just economic regulatory regimes,” he added.

Duterte closed his message by calling for a “bolder vision and urgent action” across the region. — BM, GMA News