Senate Deputy Majority Leader JV Ejercito has sounded the alarm over what he called a “dangerous disconnect” in the government’s management of water resources, urging the creation of a dedicated Department of Water Resources Management to ensure better coordination among water agencies.
At the recent Senate deliberations on the 2026 budget of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Ejercito criticized the apparent lack of consultation between the DPWH and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in carrying out flood control projects.
“It is disheartening that even crucial flood control projects have proceeded without proper consultation with the DENR, who are the experts on where and how water flows,” Ejercito said, echoing a similar concern raised by DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon.
Ejercito warned that the poor coordination between agencies could jeopardize the country’s long-term water security.
“Every rainy season, we have abundant water, yet when the dry season comes, there is scarcity. This should not happen if we plan and manage our water properly,” he said.
The senator noted that many infrastructure projects were built only to channel water to the sea, rather than to capture and store it for use during the dry season.
Without science-based planning, he said, projects risk being driven by “individual discretion” rather than technical expertise — opening the door to inefficiency and irregularities.
Ejercito said the establishment of a centralized water agency would allow for a more coherent, sustainable, and transparent approach to managing the country’s water supply, conservation programs, and flood control systems.
At the same hearing, Dizon acknowledged that some flood control structures — such as dikes and drainage systems — were built without sufficient coordination with local experts, which in some cases may have worsened flooding instead of mitigating it.
“This is not a laughing matter,” Ejercito stressed. “Water is becoming scarcer every day worldwide. We need a full-fledged agency to prevent mismanagement, coordinate all projects, and safeguard this vital resource for every Filipino.”
The senator’s proposal comes amid growing concerns over worsening floods and droughts across the country, exacerbated by rapid urbanization, deforestation, and the impact of climate change.
If enacted, the proposed Department of Water Resources Management would consolidate the water-related functions of various agencies, including the DPWH, DENR, and the National Water Resources Board, into a single, science-driven institution tasked with overseeing the nation’s water systems.