MANILA, Philippines — Officials are finalizing an executive order that seeks to address the water crisis and proposes to turn the National Water Resources Board into a body that will craft policies on water-related issues, Malacañang said Sunday. Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles said the proposed EO, which will cover the components of integrated water resource management, was discussed during a Cabinet Assistance System meeting in Leyte last Friday. “Given the scope and breadth of water-related concerns, the supervision of OP could help ensure that all 30-plus agencies involved in water resource management are on the same page,” Nograles said. READ: Filipinos have varying concerns on drought as Philippines experiences El Niño — studyThere are at least 32 agencies involved in the water sector. Earlier, President Rodrigo Duterte ordered the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System to demand from water utilities Manila Water and Maynilad and offices involved in water management to release water from Angat Dam to supply Metro Manila areas experiencing water shortage.

Source: Philippine Star March 17, 2019 05:14 UTC