The FAO-ESCAP pilot project on national water visions. From vision ...

) Create one-stop shopping for water resources development.
c) Provide incentive programmes for private sector investment in all water resources
development initiatives.
3. Anchor irrigation development on food security through self-reliance and uplift the socioeconomic
conditions of farmers in support of the social reform agenda.
4. Strengthen forest protection efforts, including reforestation activities, through
community-based <strong>project</strong>s.
5. Develop a pricing mechanism that takes into consideration full cost recovery and other
externalities while balancing it with people’s capacity and willingness to pay.
6. Develop an extensive information and education campaign that will make the public
realize that water is a limited resource, and that it is a commodity which comes at a price.
7. Rationalize and institutionalize the data collection system for an efficient and effective
flow of information.
8. Pursue and strengthen the strict enforcement of environmental laws, rules and regulations
and adopt stiff penalties for violators.
9. Prioritize research on and development of applicable and appropriate technology for water
conservation, sanitation and pollution control.
10. Encourage rainwater harvesting and impounding and prioritize the development of
surface water resources to relieve stress and pressure on groundwater.
11. Integrate gender concerns in all water resources development and management policies
and programmes.
2. Current efforts in the formulation of a national water vision
1. <strong>The</strong> National Water Conference (World Water Day 1999)
<strong>The</strong> observance of the World Day for Water every 22 March began when the General
Assembly of the United Nations adopted a resolution whereby 22 March was declared World
Day for Water, to be observed annually starting in 1993, in conformity with the
recommendations of the UN Conference on Environment and Development held in Rio de
Janeiro in 1992, to create awareness of the world’s dwindling water sources and resources.
<strong>The</strong> Philippine government, through Administrative Order No. 258 signed by President Fidel
V Ramos on 4 March 1996, officially adopted World Water Day for national observance
from that year onward. <strong>The</strong> order also provided for the observance of the National Water
Conservation Year, starting on World Water Day. Corollary to the government’s effort of
attaining sustainable development, all sectors must demonstrate solidarity with the
international community in advocating water conservation and sustainable use.
A national conference aimed at creating a shared vision on water supply and sanitation for the
21 st century highlighted the celebration of World Water Day in 1999. Heads of the different
government agencies involved in water supply and sanitation as well as representatives of
non-governmental organizations, private sector companies, people’s organizations, women’s
groups and other bodies took part in the conference to come up with a water sector statement
in accordance with the year’s World Water Day theme of “Everybody Lives Downstream”,
with emphasis on water resources management at the river basin level and in accordance with
Vision 21, a shared vision for water supply and sanitation development for the next century.
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