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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
Figure 13. Proportion of population with access to improved water source.
Water Use and Supply Management
Access to improved water source
Implications and Recommendations
The Tap Watch program, which involves testing the quality
of potable water in communities, is a necessary service of
health offices in the Province. Such initiatives should be
continued and expanded. Each year the Province invests
more than PhP300M in the water and sanitation sector, but
the benefits to the people, in terms of enhanced access to
safe water, cannot be confirmed at this point. The Batangas
SEMP refers to water use rationalization and the application
of market-based instruments (e.g., water use fees) in order
to better manage and protect watersheds and control the
generation, collection, processing and disposal of solid and
liquid wastes that pollute water supply sources. At the same
time, care must be taken to guard against conflicts between
domestic, agricultural, industrial and commercial users of
water over access to and pricing of potable water.
Improving the collaboration between the Provincial Health
Office, which is responsible for water safety and potability,
and the Environment Office, which is responsible for waste
management and environmental protection, would optimize
the use of available resources for planning, implementation
of management interventions, and monitoring and reporting
on the benefits derived as a consequence of the Province’s
investments.
References
NWRC (National Water Resources Council). 1982. Rapid Assessment of Water Supply Sources: Province of
Batangas. National Water Resources Council, Report No. 36, Vol. 22. Quezon City, Philippines.
Provincial Planning Office. 2008. Municipal inventory of water and sanitation.
Socioeconomic Profile (SEP). 2006. Batangas Province.
State of the Coasts of Batangas Province
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