Water crisis looms

Published by the Visayan Daily Star Publications, Inc.

NINFA R. LEONARDIA Editor-in-Chief & President

CARLA P. GOMEZ Editor CHERYL CRUZ Desk Editor PATRICK PANGILINAN Busines Editor NIDA A. BUENAFE Sports Editor RENE GENOVE Bureau Chief, Dumaguete MAJA P. DELY Advertising Coordinator

CARLOS ANTONIO L. LEONARDIA Administrative Officer

The Asia Water Development Outlook report of the Asian Development Bank warns the Philippines of a looming water crisis and urged the country to boost supply and sanitation. The report showed that the Philippines and 48 other countries are in varying stages of “water insecurity” and adds that in the Asia-Pacific, 3 out of 4 countries have serious water supply problems.

The Philippines performed poorly in the National Water Security Index and together with Vietnam, received the lowest score in urban water security among ASEAN countries. The two countries are also tied at second to the bottom in water security.

The index ranked the countries based on 5 factors: household, economic, urban and environment water security, and resilience to water disasters. The Philippines came out at level two out of five, scoring 2 for household water security, doing well in economic water security with a 4, getting a 1 for urban water security, a scoring a poor 2 for both environment water security and resilience to water disasters.

ADB Vice President Bindu Lohani commented that “While the Asia-Pacific region has become an economic powerhouse, it is alarming that no developing country in the region can be considered ‘water-secure’”.

The report shows that access to drinking water has improved but more than 65 percent of the region’s population still does not have what should be considered a secure household supply.  Aside from that, nearly 80 percent of Asia’s rivers are in poor health and with urban populations and pollution on the rise, coupled with the increasing demand on water by food and energy needs, water resources are under increasing pressure. In terms of improved sanitation, the percentage of people with access to it rose from 36 percent in 1990 to 58 percent in 2010 but 1.74 billion people in Asia and the Pacific continue to live without proper sanitation.

The task of providing our growing population with clean water and proper sanitation facilities is already a daunting task. Adding the challenge of ensuring that our water supply remains clean and secure for future generations to use and enjoy makes it almost impossible. But water is something we cannot ignore and it would be a good idea to take heed of the ADB warning and act quickly before it is too late.*