１０２：比国ネグロスのIWRM記事

比国ネグロス島でＧＴＺの支援で進められているＩＷＲＭの現状である。フィリピンではＮＷＲＢが水資源管理の国家的組織だが力が無くＩＷＲＭ推進にはほぼ無力である。これまでにも世銀やＡＤＢが支援したがそれでも進まない。世銀はビコールなどＮＥＤＡに跡継ぎを求めたがＮＥＤＡはもっと悪い。インドネシアのＢＡＰＥＮＡＳのような役割を持っているが経済屋ばかりで役立たず。ＤＥＮＲがＩＷＲＭを担う組織となるとされているがどうなることか？

下記のネグロス、セブ、ダバオなどいずれのＬＧＵも国の支援を期待しているが最貧地域には行き届かない。

なんといっても国家に支援する予算がないことが問題。次に人材不足。口ばかり達者の公務員には無理だ。まだトンカチのＤＰＷＨのほうがましである。ちょっとした新聞記事からも国と地方の認識ギャップが鮮明である。

Devolve water resource
mgm’t to LGUs: Baldado
BY MARICAR ARANAS

Negros Oriental Vice Gov. Jose Baldado said the National Water Resources Board should devolve its functions to local government units.

The suggestion of Baldado came after the creation of the Integrated Water Resources Management Council covering the two provinces of Negros island.

The island-wide IWRM Council is supported by the German Technical Cooperation-Water.

The IWRM was created in order to address the water resources and the rehabilitation and identification of the watershed areas in the province.

Baldado said strict regulation on water resources should be implemented through the NWRB. In fact, he said, one of the concerns of the IWRM is the raw water pricing that would monitor and regulate water extraction.

He added that because of the lucrative business on water, many are venturing into this business without considering the environmental impact.

Baldado said that NWRB is an agency that addresses water concerns and its regulations. Unfortunately, it has no local office in the province that can monitor the water resources situation, he added.

The vice governor said the NWRB should devolve to LGU’s the health care services aspect, as local officials can better handle local water resources.

Meanwhile, Baldado said over-extraction of ground water will affect the water table which will result in the intrusion of sea water. Several years ago, some barangays in the municipality of Manjuyod have experienced brackish taste of drinking water due to lack of forest cover.

He pointed out that those who are privately extracting water for business purposes should be required to maintain a watershed area, just like the Dumaguete City Water District that adopts a watershed project in Valencia, Negros Oriental.

Baldado said he will try to ask the congressmen of the province if they can help in his plan to devolve the functions of NWRB to the LGU’s.