Philippines to implement nationwide water supply projects

The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) of the Philippines has released PHP1.73bn ($40m) to the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to develop water supply facilities for waterless tourism areas.

The cities of San Carlos in Negros Occidental and Dapitan in Zamboanga del Norte have each been allotted PHP138.6m ($3.2m) and lead the list of priority implementation areas.

The updated National Tourism Development Plan for the period 2011 to 2016 has also focused on sustainable water supplies and sanitation facilities to promote a beneficial economic environment for local communities.

Budget Secretary Florencio Abad said that the Tourism Water Supply Infrastructure Program is a convergence project between the DPWH and the Department of Tourism (DoT), and was designed to spur tourism and economic activity in identified development sites on a priority basis.

"Through the joint efforts of these agencies, the administration has identified various in-need locations nationwide which have been waterless for years now. As poor as these communities have been, however, we understand their potential for growth, especially through local tourism," Abad added.

The fund release has been charged against the DPWH’s budget for Water Supply and Sanitation for poverty areas and tourism priority sites under the 2014 General Appropriations Act.

The DPWH, DOT, the National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC), and the Local Water Utilities Administration (LWAU) prepared the identification and list of priority areas.