Municipal Water Supply and Sanitation Master Plan (MWSSMP)

Mulanay’s Journey Towards Clean Water and Sanitation: A Five-Part Analysis

Part 1: A Municipality on the Rise

The Municipality of Mulanay, a 1st class local government unit in Quezon province, has made strides in recent years thanks to financial assistance from the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG). From 2015 to 2017, these funds enabled the installation of Level I and II water systems, marking a positive step forward. Despite existing concerns about climate change and an aging infrastructure, the Local Government aims to implement improvements to its Level III water system.

Part 2: Challenges Remain

Despite these advancements, Mulanay still faces significant challenges in water access and sanitation. According to the DILG’s Integrated Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (iWASH) Investment Planning Tool, a concerning percentage of households lack access to safe water, while others struggle with untreated water quality. Similarly, the sanitation sector requires improvement, with a substantial portion of households lacking access to proper facilities.

Part 3: Beyond Households: Addressing Wider Needs

The lack of safe water and sanitation extends beyond individual homes, impacting public institutions like schools, evacuation centers, parks, and even the cemetery. These facilities lack readily available safe water and improved sanitation, posing potential health risks. Furthermore, aging water pipelines and inadequate drainage systems exacerbate the situation, particularly during typhoons and landslides.

Part 4: Health Consequences

The inadequate water and sanitation conditions contribute to the prevalence of waterborne diseases like diarrhea, pneumonia, dengue fever, and others. These illnesses lead to increased morbidity and mortality within the municipality, highlighting the urgency of addressing these issues.

Part 5: Charting a Course for Change

Recognizing these challenges, Mulanay’s key planners, functionaries, and stakeholders have collaborated to develop the Municipal Water Supply and Sanitation Master Plan (MWSSMP). This plan leverages data from various sources, including the Municipal Comprehensive Land Use Plan and the iWASH tools, to provide a comprehensive assessment of the current situation. It proposes interventions, investment strategies, and solutions to achieve the ultimate goal: by 2030, all Mulanay residents will have access to safe water, improved sanitation, and a healthy, clean environment.

This five-part analysis summarizes the key points of the text, highlighting the challenges and aspirations of Mulanay as it embarks on its journey towards a more sustainable and healthy future.

Background

Deprivation of access to safe drinking water and improved sanitation is a pressing challenge in the Philippines.  Based on the Philippine Development Plan (PDP) 2017-2022 and the Philippine Water Supply and Sanitation Master Plan (2019-2030) around 14.5 percent of the families still no access to safe water supply, and 5.9 percent of the households have access to basic sanitary toilet facilities.  Disparities in access are found to be more pronounced between rural and urban areas, and between poor and non-poor households.  The Philippines has committed to contribute in attaining the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) particularly on SDG No. 6 Ensuring Clean Water and Sanitation for All by year 2030.

MWSSMP Planning Framework

The MWSSMP planning framework is generally based on the objectives, policies and strategies outlined in the Philippine Development Plan (PDP) 2017-2022 and the Philippine Water Supply and Sanitation Master Plan (PWSSMP).  The PWSSMP serves as the national action plan to achieve universal access to safe, sufficient, affordable, and sustainable water supply, hygiene, and sanitation by 2030. 

Human Rights-Based Approach (HRBA)

The MWSSMP was prepared following the Human Rights-Based Approach (HRBA) to planning.  It is guided primarily by the principle that development programs and policies must aim for the greater realization of human rights, and that the process of development programs must be guided by human rights principles and standards.

This approach is centered on the relationship between Government, as the primary duty bearer, and the people, as rights holders, and works towards developing the capacities of rights holders to claim their rights as well as duty bearers to fulfill their obligations.  It emphasizes that development must not only focus on outcomes but also on the processes of realizing these outcomes.  The minimum desirable outcomes refer to human rights standards or normative core elements while the processes pertain to human rights principles.

Normative Elements on the Right to Water and Sanitation

The HRBA to water and sanitation has six normative core elements that act as standards against which the efforts of Government and development agencies to realize access to water and sanitation can be measured and assessed.

• Water and sanitation availability: Quantity has to be sufficient on a continuous basis to meet basic human needs. There should be sufficiency of sanitation facilities and services and increase access to “Improved Sanitation”.

• Water and sanitation facilities quality: Water must be safe and acceptable. Sanitation facilities must be hygienically safe and properly constructed.

• Water and sanitation accessibility: Water and sanitation facilities must be within safe physical reach. Sensitive to the needs of women, disabled, children and elderly.

• Water and sanitation service affordability: Water and sanitation services must be affordable and should not create an adverse impact on households’ ability to pay for other basic needs.

• Sanitation acceptability: Sanitation facilities have to be culturally appropriate.

HRBA as Applied to Water and Sanitation

The human rights principles integrated into the planning framework include:

(a)  Universality and indivisibility:   it is a basic human right of all persons to have access to sustainable potable water and acceptable sanitation.

(b) Participation and inclusion:  Active, free, and meaningful participation of stakeholders is basic human right and a fundamental operational principle of any development initiative.

(c) Equality   and   non-discrimination:   Everybody   are   entitled   to   human   rights   without discrimination of any form, such as color, sex, ethnicity, age, language, religion, political affiliation, social origin, disability, property, or birth, among others.

(d) Accountability and rule of law:   HRBA underscores that Government is responsible and answerable for the realization of rights to water and sanitation.

(e)  Inter-dependence and Inter-relatedness:  The realization of one right often depends, wholly or in part, upon the realization of others.

The above human rights standards and principles to water and sanitation was used to address the causes and obstacles why individuals and communities do not enjoy their rights.  This approach helps identify those who are left out in the development process; prepare plans of actions and interventions   that   are   more   responsive   and   sustainable; and   enhance   accountability   and transparency through participation and partnerships.

Recommendation to address the iWASH Issues and Challenges

Ensuring safe water and sanitation for all is crucial for public health and well-being. However, insufficient access remains a significant challenge. To overcome this, the Mulanay Water Supply and Sanitation Master Plan (MWSSMP) proposes key strategies:

1. Increased Financial Support:

• Implementing the MWSSMP requires substantial funding. Adhering to the iWASH Investment Plan can help secure necessary resources to achieve the 2030 target.

2. A Healthy and Progressive Community:

• The goal is to create a healthy and progressive community with improved water supply, sanitation, and hygiene facilities. This will enhance residents’ lives and promote environmental well-being.

3. Effective Monitoring and Evaluation:

• Regular monitoring and evaluation are crucial to address potential issues such as lack of political will, administrative changes, substandard materials, and non-compliance with sanitation standards. This ensures successful implementation of the MWSSMP’s Public-Private Agreements (PPAs).

4. Investment Strategies and Private Partnerships:

• Exploring alternative funding approaches and workable Private-Public Partnerships (PPPs) with water companies is recommended. Feasibility studies, public hearings, and sustainable development practices must be prioritized for project viability.

5. Utilizing Surface Water and Treatment Systems:

• The private sector proposes using river water as a primary source alongside Water Treatment Clarifier Systems capable of producing 2000 m3/day of clean water in problematic areas. This project is planned for Sitio Agsayan, Barangay Latangan, near the Mulanay River System.