The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) backed the passage of House Bill No. 6789, which the House of Representatives recently approved on third reading to create a Department of Water Resources (DWR).
The DENR called the proposal a landmark reform that will finally unify and modernize the country’s fragmented water governance system.
The measure is one of the priority bills endorsed by the Legislative‑Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC), following President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s directive to accelerate key reforms this year.
Its elevation to the national priority agenda reflects a growing consensus that water security is now a core driver of governance reform, climate resilience, and long‑term economic stability.
“The mandate of the President is clear, and we will continue to push for reforms aligned with his agenda,” Environment Secretary Raphael Lotilla said.
“The advancement of the Water Resources Bill to the Senate underscores DENR’s continuing effort to strengthen policy frameworks for resource governance.”
“The advancement of the Water Resources Bill to the Senate, together with key environmental measures such as the Waste Treatment Technology Bill and the Blue Economy Bill, underscores DENR’s continuing effort to strengthen policy frameworks for resource governance,” Lotilla stressed.
By strengthening water policy, improving allocation systems, and ensuring reliable supply for agriculture, industry, and rapidly growing urban centers, the bill is expected to support sustained economic growth and shield communities from intensifying climate‑related risks.
Water governance in the Philippines currently involves multiple agencies and local government units operating under sector-specific mandates.
Aside from DENR, the National Water Resources Board, the Department of Public Works and Highways, the Department of Agriculture, the Local Water Utilities Administration, the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System, and various Local Government Units perform vital functions within their respective jurisdictions, resulting in overlapping responsibilities and challenges in coordination, planning, policy formulation, resource allocation, and data systems.
House Bill No. 6789 seeks to address these institutional complexities by creating a Cabinet-level authority responsible for national water policy, planning, allocation, and conservation. By consolidating fragmented functions and strengthening coordination across sectors, the measure positions water security as a strategic component of national development and advances a whole-of-government approach to collaboration among national agencies, local governments, and sectoral stakeholders.
Among others, House Bill No. 6789 envisions the proposed Department undertaking key functions such as:
Formulating and implementing a National Water Resources Management Plan
Strengthening river basin–based planning and governance
Integrating flood and drought risk management into national planning
Protecting watersheds and aquatic ecosystems
Consolidating national water data and information systems
Promoting equitable allocation across sectors
Supporting universal access to water supply and sanitation services
Enhancing coordination with LGUs, stakeholders, and private partners
The measure advances key policy principles central to DENR’s governance framework, including ecosystem sustainability, public participation, data-driven governance, and the delivery of tangible benefits to communities through improved service reliability and resilience.
“Strengthening governance structures today is a necessary investment in safeguarding communities, ecosystems, and national development over the long term.”
“We recognize that the challenges surrounding water are interconnected and evolving; therefore, strengthening governance structures today is a necessary investment in safeguarding communities, ecosystems, and national development over the long term,” the environment chief said.
The reform comes at a time when the country’s water resources are under mounting pressure—from recurring supply shortages in major urban centers to severe flooding and increasingly complex management issues across river basins. These overlapping challenges have highlighted the need for a unified institutional framework capable of addressing water issues in a coordinated, science‑based, and forward‑looking manner.
With its approval by the House of Representatives, House Bill No. 6789 has now been transmitted to the Senate for deliberation, marking a key step in the legislative process toward establishing a dedicated Department of Water Resources. The measure’s progress signals growing momentum behind efforts to modernize the country’s water governance system and strengthen national resilience in the face of climate‑driven risks.
