Escudero seeks bigger budget for water, sanitation plan to ensure healthy, prosperous citizens

Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Karl Chua, who is the director-general of NEDA, says only about 44 percent of households nationwide have their own connections to a proper and fully reticulated waterworks system. (File photo by JAM STA. ROSA / Philippine Daily Inquirer)

MANILA, Philippines —  The budget for the Philippine Water Supply and Sanitation Master Plan (PWSSMP) of the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) should be increased, Sorsogon Gov. Francis ‘’Chiz’’ Escudero, who is running for senator in 2022, said in a statement issued on Wednesday.

“One of the keys to a prosperous and healthy community is having an adequate supply of clean water and proper sanitation,” Escudero said in Filipino. “Like electricity, water is for everyone, not just for a few.”

According to him, the proposal is in line with the Philippines’ commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations. One of the 17 global goals there is to ensure clean water and sanitation to help achieve “a better and more sustainable future for all.”

NEDA said, however, that implementing the national action plan for that goal would not be easy. It would call for setting up effective institutions to handle the water supply and sanitation and strengthening the regulatory environment.

The government would also need to invest a total of P1.1 trillion to meet the SDG on water supply and sanitation in 10 years — meaning an annual investment of over P100 billion between 2020 and 2030.

According to NEDA, the current annual expenditure for water and sanitation is only about P5 billion, resulting in a P95-billion gap.

Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Karl Chua, who is the director-general of NEDA, also said that only about 44 percent of households nationwide had their own connections to a proper and fully reticulated waterworks system.

Because of this, Escudero stressed the need for the government to come up with more incentives for investors and other stakeholders to put in their money in water and sanitation projects and other water-related infrastructures.

“If the government has been able to provide incentives to entrepreneurs to invest in electricity and internet connections in the countryside, why not also give it to entrepreneurs who will improve the state of irrigation in the country?” Escudero said.

Escudero added that, if elected, he would ensure that the PWSSMP would receive a bigger budget so that it could hit the goal of providing universal access to a sustainable water supply and sanitation system by 2030.

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