Download PDF Copy - Pemsea

S u s t a i n a b l e D e v e l o p m e n t A s p e c t s
Water Use and Supply Management
022 Water conservation and management
Description
This indicator measures the demand of the population
for freshwater and accounts the intensity of freshwater
management efforts through availability of water
management and conservation plans, strategies adopted,
and staff and budget allocated.
Rationale
Freshwater is essential for life and effective management
for its sustainable use is of utmost importance for a healthy
community.
Data Requirements
• Availability of water management and conservation plan
• Mitigation and adaptation strategies identified
• Water use per capita
• Staff and budget for water management
Results
The Philippines has the second to the lowest freshwater
availability among Southeast Asian countries, with an
estimated 1,907 m 3 of freshwater per person each year
(JICA Master Plan on Water Resource Management in the
Philippines). The surface water and groundwater resources
of Region IV are considered to be moderately low relative to
the rest of the country at 6,370 million m 3 and 1,410 million
m 3 respectively (World Bank, 2003).
In Batangas, the static water level of the central
municipalities from Calaca to Batangas City (but not
including Mabini and Tingloy) are much deeper (i.e., greater
than 40 m below ground surface and harder to reach)
than those of other coastal municipalities in Batangas
(NWRC, 1982) and 77 percent of the area of the province is
considered difficult for the purposes of well construction (i.e.,
“where groundwater depths vary with geological formations
that have permeabilities near zero”) (Figure 12).
Development and annual investment plans include
substantial investments to tap and maintain connections to
sources of water, and to test for safety. However, there are
no plans for the province or any of the coastal municipalities
surveyed to assess water resources and plan for regulation
and conservation of freshwater use.
76 State of the Coasts of Batangas Province