MANILA, (PIA) — The Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA) on Tuesday, November 26, emphasized the need to establish a quick response fund (QRF) to address infrastructure damage brought by the onslaught of the six typhoons that battered the Philippines.
During the Kapihan sa Bagong Pilipinas media forum in Quezon City, LWUA Strategy Management Department Manager Atty. Bryan John Maga said reports showed that Category C and D water districts, that got damaged during the six typhoon event, “struggle with financial deployment.”
“We hope this [QRF] will be prioritized next year,” he said.
The QRF is a built-in standby fund used to cover preparatory activities, relief and rehabilitation in case of disasters and calamities.
Maga also outlined the agency’s response to the challenges posed by recent typhoons and the ongoing efforts to ensure reliable water supply for affected communities.
“Following the recent storms, we immediately contacted the water districts,” he explained.
He highlighted the effectiveness of the water district setup, which, under LWUA’s monitoring and support, is designed to be self-sufficient. “We were surprised to find that some districts, like those in Camarines Norte, had already addressed their issues efficiently.”
Maga noted that while most areas currently have a water supply, some still require repairs.
For those needing assistance, LWUA has promptly provided lists of affected districts to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) for immediate support.
Meanwhile, Maga expressed gratitude for the support from Congress and the Senate, noting that this year’s national fund allocation of P800 million to upgrade local water districts is a grant, not a loan.
“This funding allows us to choose truly deserving beneficiaries,” Maga said. However, he voiced concern about the reduced budget for the next year, which is only P29 million—sufficient to support only one water district.
In addition to national funding, LWUA is seeking to allocate around P500 million in internal funds for low-interest loans to water districts.
“Water supply management is capital intensive,” Maga explained, with requests often exceeding P10 million, and some districts needing more than P25 million for essential infrastructure improvements.
Maga outlined the process by which water districts can request support, which involves submitting a resolution and validating their proposed projects. “As regulators, we ensure that projects are viable and benefit the community,” he added.
He stressed that the selection process is not first come, first served; rather, it focuses on the viability of projects to prevent unnecessary expenditures.
“This year, we have initiated 10 projects, with more expected by the end of the year,” Maga concluded, reaffirming LWUA’s commitment to providing safe and sustainable water for all communities.
It can be recalled that LWUA was established by Presidential Decree No. 198 as a specialized agency dedicated to promoting, developing, and financing local water utilities in provincial cities and municipalities outside Metro Manila. LWUA is responsible for setting standards for these utilities, which include regulations on water quality, design and construction, as well as operations and maintenance. (JCO/PIA-NCR)
(Photo by: John Lester M. Naguna/PIA-NCR)
