Manila: The Private Sector Advisory Council (PSAC) has renewed its call for the creation of a Department of Water Resources (DWR) to unify the government's response to flooding, drought, and water supply challenges. The recommendation was presented during PSAC's 8th Infrastructure Sector meeting with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. in Malaca±ang, where the council urged faster and more coordinated action to strengthen the country's disaster and water resilience.
According to Philippines News Agency, PSAC lead convenor Sabin Aboitiz, president and CEO of Aboitiz Equity Ventures, emphasized the urgency of proactive measures, stating, "We should not wait for the next earthquake, flood, or drought. We need to act before it happens." On flood management, PSAC advocated for solutions that address the entire water system rather than focusing on individual projects. Recommendations included clearing the Manggahan Floodway, pursuing the Para±aque Spillway, and supporting waste-to-energy facilities, alongside the creation of the DWR.
Aboitiz highlighted the necessity of a unified approach to tackle the country's interconnected water challenges, stating, "On flooding, we cannot solve it project by project. We have to look at the whole system." The proposed DWR aims to address the fragmented management of the country's water resources, which is currently divided among several government agencies and units, such as the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System, Local Water Utilities Administration, National Irrigation Administration, and others.
The proposal has been pursued by successive administrations. Under the Marcos administration, Executive Order 22 established the Water Resources Management Office under the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) as an interim mechanism to integrate and harmonize government policies and programs pending the establishment of the DWR. The DWR remains a legislative proposal, with the current administration including it among its priority bills for the 20th Congress.
PSAC also pointed to Metro Manila's experience during the 2026 drought as evidence of the importance of early preparation. During this period, Angat Dam's water level fell to around 151 meters, below the 159-meter low recorded during the 2019 El Ni±o. Despite this, Metro Manila avoided major El Ni±o-related water interruptions, which PSAC attributed to additional water sources, reduced water losses, and improvements in storage and network management. The council recommended issuing earlier drought warnings, taking coordinated action before water levels become critical, and simplifying and expediting permits for critical water projects.
Aboitiz remarked, "What changed was not the drought risk. It was our ability to cope with it. Resilience does not happen by accident. We have to prepare and invest ahead of the need." Beyond water management, PSAC recommended the full implementation of PNS 49:2026, or the Philippine National Standard for steel bars used in concrete reinforcement. The council cited the Department of Trade and Industry's destruction of 12,500 metric tons of imported cement in April 2026, which failed key strength and durability tests. PSAC also proposed a Building Resilience Seal for homes and buildings inspected and found to meet earthquake-resilience standards.
Created by the President in 2022, PSAC is composed of business leaders and industry experts who provide policy recommendations to help achieve the administration's economic priorities.
