Question & AnswerQ&A (EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 22)
The purpose of Executive Order No. 22 is to create the Water Resources Management Office (WRMO) in the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to integrate and harmonize all government efforts and regulatory activities to ensure the availability and sustainable management of water resources in the Philippines.
The WRMO is created under the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).
The WRMO is headed by an Undersecretary appointed by the President upon the recommendation of the DENR Secretary.
Key functions include shepherding the passage of a law creating an apex water body, ensuring immediate implementation of Integrated Water Resources Management, formulating the Integrated Water Resources Master Plan (IWMP), integrating plans of other agencies, generating credible water data, collaborating with stakeholders, and performing other functions assigned by the DENR Secretary.
Attached agencies include the National Water Resources Board, Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (corporate and regulatory offices), Local Water Utilities Administration and local water districts, and the Laguna Lake Development Authority.
The IWMP is a comprehensive national policy for the management of water resources designed to harness water supply benefits, harmonize plans and policies across agencies, ensure resilience to extreme events, and engage local governments, private sector, and civil society in water resource management.
Considerations include harmonizing water-related functions within DENR, strengthening coordination with national agencies, exercising administrative oversight over water utilities, establishing a decision support system and central data repository, and integrating climate change and disaster risk management in water policies.
DENR Regional Offices, headed by Regional Directors, implement the mandates, powers, and functions of the WRMO at the regional and field level, supported by strengthened Water Resources Utilization Sections.
Initial funding for WRMO implementation shall be charged against current DENR appropriations, with subsequent funding to be coordinated with the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) and included in the General Appropriations Act (GAA). The attachment of agencies to DENR does not affect their appropriations.
All government departments, agencies, instrumentalities, state universities and colleges, government-owned or controlled corporations, government financial institutions, and local government units are directed or enjoined to render full assistance and cooperation to the WRMO to carry out the objectives of the Order.
The separability clause states that if any part of the Order is held unconstitutional or invalid, the other provisions not affected shall remain in full force and effect.
The Executive Order took effect immediately upon its signing on April 27, 2023.
The WRMO is tasked to generate and maintain credible and timely water and sanitation data to aid in evidence-based policy-making, regulations, planning, and implementation.
The WRMO, together with the Presidential Legislative Liaison Office, is to shepherd and champion the passage of a law creating an apex water body such as a Department of Water or a regulatory commission on water.