Water supply and sanitation is an important component of the country's strategic infrastructure program under the
Philippine Development Plan (PDP) 2017-2022. To determine whether the water sector contributes or hinders the PDP's attainment, this Policy Note examined the issues in the water sector's institutional arrangements and identified gaps and overlaps in regulation. It found that the water sector's fragmented structure resulted in regulatory conflicts and lack of investment coordination. Inconsistencies in the technical operating standards of various regulatory agencies, which gave rise to nonuniform levels of service across the country, were also uncovered. The study recommended that conflicting and overlapping regulatory mandates be clarified and technical regulation and operating standards be aligned. Lastly, it called for the creation of a central coordinating body to keep track of investments and funding needs of water supply entities nationwide.
