Central Luzon water council creation pushed

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga – A lady lawmaker from Nueva Ecija is seeking the creation of a water council in Central Luzon to promote conservation and protection of water in the region, which is one of the most typhoon-ravaged and flood-prone regions in the country.

The move also aims to consolidate, coordinate, and regulate all water-related activities in the whole of Region 3.

Nueva Ecija 1st District Representative Josefina Manuel-Joson filed House Bill (HB) 6103 creating the Central Luzon Water Council “to protect the life and property, and promote the general welfare of the people in Central Luzon, which are essential in the enjoyment of the blessing of democracy through the conservation and protection of water resources in the area.”

“It suffers from the onslaught of floods due to its natural terrain. Farmers raise the concern of the extreme realities of flood and drought that they frequently experience. This region thus deserves the adequate protection from these natural hazards,” Joson said.

“Government must harness its capability to take advantage of the enormous water resources the region receives during typhoons into a useful natural resource not only for the farmers but to other end users,” Joson added.

The bill seeks to create the Central Luzon Water Council, which will be the sole policy-making body of the government within the Central Luzon region for the conservation and protection of water resources, and flood prevention and control in the area.

It is also tasked to coordinate, monitor, and evaluate the programs and action plans of the various local government units (LGUs) in the area.

Likewise, it seeks to ensure the optimum utilization, exploitation, development, conservation, and protection of the water resources, and the prevention and control of potential damage brought by natural water hazards in Central Luzon.

Within one-year from its organization, the council is tasked to formulate a framework strategy, master plan, and program on water resources conservation, impounding, and utilization for Central Luzon.

The council will be chaired by the chairman of the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC) with the regional director of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) as the vice chairperson.

A body, in coordination with the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), will issue the necessary rules and regulations for the effective implementation of the proposed act.